Back to Search Start Over

Post-Infectious Guillain–Barré Syndrome Related to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review

Authors :
Pasquale Sansone
Luca Gregorio Giaccari
Caterina Aurilio
Francesco Coppolino
Valentina Esposito
Marco Fiore
Antonella Paladini
Maria Beatrice Passavanti
Vincenzo Pota
Maria Caterina Pace
Source :
Life, Vol 11, Iss 2, p 167 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Background. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of flaccid paralysis, with about 100,000 people developing the disorder every year worldwide. Recently, the incidence of GBS has increased during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemics. We reviewed the literature to give a comprehensive overview of the demographic characteristics, clinical features, diagnostic investigations, and outcome of SARS-CoV-2-related GBS patients. Methods. Embase, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Trials Register were systematically searched on 24 September 2020 for studies reporting on GBS secondary to COVID-19. Results. We identified 63 articles; we included 32 studies in our review. A total of 41 GBS cases with a confirmed or probable COVID-19 infection were reported: 26 of them were single case reports and 6 case series. Published studies on SARS-CoV-2-related GBS typically report a classic sensorimotor type of GBS often with a demyelinating electrophysiological subtype. Miller Fisher syndrome was reported in a quarter of the cases. In 78.1% of the cases, the response to immunomodulating therapy is favourable. The disease course is frequently severe and about one-third of the patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated GBS requires mechanical ventilation and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Rarely the outcome is poor or even fatal (10.8% of the cases). Conclusion. Clinical presentation, course, response to treatment, and outcome are similar in SARS-CoV-2-associated GBS and GBS due to other triggers.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20751729
Volume :
11
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Life
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.be2b19a2190a42aea5b1738edc079e8c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/life11020167