Guillain-Barre Syndrome and COVID-19 Vaccine: A Report of Nine Patients

Abstract

Background: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy usually elicited by an upper respiratory tract infection. Several studies reported GBS associated with coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) infection. In this study, we describe nine GBS patients following the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: In this study, nine patients introduce from six referral centers of neuromuscular disorder in Iran between April 8 and June 20, 2021. Four patients received the Sputnik V, three patients administrated the Sinopharm, and two patients received the AstraZeneca vaccine. All patients were diagnosed with GBS, including nerve conduction studies and/or cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Results: The median age of the patients was 54.22 years (range, 26-87 years), and seven patients were male. The patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasma exchange (PLEX). All patients were discharged with some improvement. Conclusion: The link between the COVID-19 vaccine and GBS is not well understood. Given the prevalence of GBS in the general population, this association may be coincidental. Therefore, more studies are needed to investigate a causal relationship.

Development of facial palsy following COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review

“…Additionally, bystander activation of dormant self-antigens stimulates autoreactive T cells. Thus, causing an increased cell-mediated response [ 28 , 59 ]. Ozonoff et al presented a valid discussion between the FDA Vaccines, Related Biologic Products Advisory Committee and Pfizer on the vaccines' likelihood to activate the body's innate immunity by the combination of mRNA and lipids.…”

“…Case reports and case series had 8 and 10 questions, respectively. Included case series (n = 7) had a mean score of 8.86 ± 0.64 with scores ranging from 8 to 10 [ [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] ]. Meanwhile, the 30 case reports had scores ranging from 5 to 8 with a mean score of 6.57 ± 0.76 [ [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] ].…”

Post COVID-19 vaccination Guillain-Barre syndrome: three cases

“… 11 To the best of our knowledge, there have been only three cases of GBS after the COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine reported so far in the literature. 8 Here, we described two further cases of GBS associated with COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine. Post vaccine GBS has been mostly shown to be an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP) subtype electrophysiologically, 20–22 in contrast to our cases of AMAN subtype of GBS.…”

“… 4–8 Temporally associated cases of GBS following COVID-19 vaccination have been described with messenger-RNA vaccine, 4 adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, 5–7 and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. 8 Here, we describe three patients who developed GBS shortly after being vaccinated against COVID-19 with the AstraZeneca second dose and Sinopharm first dose in the absence of any other known precipitating factors.…”

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following COVID-19 Vaccine: a case-report

“…( 5) GBS has been reported following both COVID-19 infection and its vaccines. (4,6) The presented case, is one of the first reported cases of GBS after COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccine, in the absence of any other triggering factors. It is important to be aware of side effects of Sinopharm vaccine in form of GBS to avoid delayed treatment for the patients presenting with the same scenario.…”