Guillain – Barré syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

Neurological manifestations of COVID‑19 infection are caused by its effects on CNS (headache, dizziness, disturbance of consciousness, convulsions, etc.) and PNS (anosmia, ageusia, visual impairment, radiculo‑ and neuropathy). Guillain – Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disease associated with damage to the peripheral nervous system. 40 — 70 % of cases are associated with a previous infection: cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Campylobacter jejuni etc. The clinical characteristics of this condition are progressive muscle weakness, reduction or loss of tendon reflexes (hyporeflexia and areflexia), paresthesias, paresis of the cranial nerves. The diagnosis is based on clinical data, cerebrospinal fluid analysis (protein level, cytosis, antigangliosid antibodies), as well as electroneuromyography. Most patients with Guillain – Barré syndrome totally recover. However, the most dangerous and severe complication of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is paralysis of the respiratory muscles. About a quarter of patients require urgent treatment at intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation and/or tracheostomy. Mortality in Guillain – Barré syndrome can reach to 10 %. There have been several reports of COVID‑19‑related GBS in the world scientific medical literature during the last year, but more information about this association and its implications is still missing. The aim of this report was to analyze the available information about cases of Guillain – Barré syndrome associated with COVID‑19 infection, to compare different variants of this condition and to share our own experience in clinical management of such patient.