Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025
A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments
Published on: November 9, 2017
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Review on Potential Pathogenic Mechanisms
Shahrzad Shoraka1,2, Maria Lucia Brito Ferreira3, Seyed Reza Mohebbi4
1Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is increasingly linked to neurological issues like Guillain-Barré syndrome. This review explores the potential connection and pathogenic mechanisms between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to widespread global health challenges.
- While primarily affecting the respiratory system, emerging reports indicate neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients.
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been increasingly reported following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
- To explore potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying this association.
- To synthesize current knowledge on COVID-19-associated GBS.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies and case reports.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on COVID-19 and GBS.
- Synthesis of proposed pathophysiological pathways.
Main Results:
- Growing evidence suggests a temporal association between COVID-19 and the onset of GBS.
- Several potential mechanisms are proposed, including molecular mimicry and direct viral neuroinvasion.
- GBS represents a significant extra-respiratory neurological complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusions:
- A link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome is plausible.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise pathogenic mechanisms.
- Understanding this association is crucial for managing neurological complications of COVID-19.
