Guillain–Barré Syndrome Variant Occurring after SARS‐CoV‐2 Vaccination

Abstract

Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are very safe, we report 4 cases of the bifacial weakness with paresthesias variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurring within 3 weeks of vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. This rare neurological syndrome has previously been reported in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection itself. Our cases were given either intravenous immunoglobulin, oral steroids, or no treatment. We suggest vigilance for cases of bifacial weakness with paresthesias variant GBS following vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 and that postvaccination surveillance programs ensure robust data capture of this outcome, to assess for causality.

Covid-19: Regulators warn that rare Guillain-Barré cases may link to J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines

“…Neither the EMA nor the FDA is yet prepared to declare a certain causal link between the J&J or AstraZeneca vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Cases of the syndrome appearing after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as those reviewed by the EMA, have been reported in England 7 and India. 8…”

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

“…fr/ actua lites/ point-de-situa tionsur-la-surve illan ce-des-vacci ns-contre-la-covid-19-perio dedu-02-04-2021-au-08-04-2021, consulted on date 17/04/21), alerting clinicians to this possibility. Shortly after, two case series from the UK and India [3,4] reported similar findings. These events, albeit rare, require post-vaccination surveillance programs, and a special monitoring and follow-up.…”

“…However, for the first time, the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has reported in April 14th five new cases of facial paralysis and three of acute polyradiculoneuropathy (including Guillain-Barré syndrome) after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine ( https://ansm.sante.fr/actualites/point-de-situation-sur-la-surveillance-des-vaccins-contre-la-covid-19-periode-du-02-04-2021-au-08-04-2021 , consulted on date 17/04/21), alerting clinicians to this possibility. Shortly after, two case series from the UK and India [ 3 , 4 ] reported similar findings. These events, albeit rare, require post-vaccination surveillance programs, and a special monitoring and follow-up.…”

“Association between COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome, Bell’s palsy, encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis: a population-based cohort and self-controlled case series analysis”

“…More recently, case reports and case series have reported immune-mediated neurological disorders after COVID-19 vaccines, such as facial nerve palsies after mRNA Covid-19 vaccines[54] and cases of GBS after adenovirus-based vaccines, including ChAdOx1. [7–9,13] On 13 July 2021, the FDA updated the label of the Johnson & Johnson adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine to include a warning about the potential risk of GBS following vaccination. [55]…”