A case of acute demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with bilateral facial palsy after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began in late 2019. Researchers around the world are aggressively working to develop a vaccine. One of the vaccines approved against COVID-19 is Oxford–AstraZeneca chimpanzee adenovirus vectored vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Case report

We described a patient who developed four limb distal paraesthesia, postural instability, and facial diplegia, ten days after vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (ABW1277). The electrophysiological findings were compatible with acute demyelinating motor polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barrè syndrome).

Discussion

We therefore want to describe a temporal correlation between administration of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (ABW1277) vaccine and GBS without evidence of other predisposing infectious or autoimmune factors. This paper aims to highlight the importance of pharmacovigilance and subsequent reports will be needed to evaluate the possible correlation between these two events.

Modulation of nociceptive threshold by combined hormonal contraceptives in women with oestrogen-withdrawal migraine attacks: a pilot study

Background

Menstrually-related headache and headaches associated with oestrogen withdrawal are common conditions, whose pathophysiology has not been completely elucidated. In this study we evaluated the influence of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC) on pain threshold in women presenting migraine attacks during hormone-free interval.

Findings

Eleven women with migraine attacks recurring exclusively during the oestrogen-withdrawal period were studied with the nociceptive flexion reflex, a neurophysiological assessment of the pain control systems, during the third week of active treatment and during the hormone-free interval.

During the hormone-free interval, nociceptive withdrawal reflex threshold was significantly lower (12.8 ± 8.0 mA) as compared to the third week of hormonal treatment (15.6 ± 6.6 mA) (p = 0.02). No change was observed in the pain perceived and in the temporal summation.

Conclusions

Oestrogen withdrawal may mediate an increased sensitivity to somatosensory stimuli in women with migraine attacks recurring during the hormone-free interval.