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Is there a difference between GBS triggered by COVID-19 and those of other origins?
Vanja Radišić1, Mirjana Ždraljević1, Stojan Perić1,2
1Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Dr. Subotic Street 6, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Insights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This study found no significant differences in GBS characteristics or outcomes between patients with COVID-19 and those without, suggesting similar disease trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases have increased following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
- GBS is an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system.
- Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on GBS is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes of GBS patients triggered by COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 GBS.
- To analyze functional disability, disease course, and electrophysiological findings in post-COVID-19 GBS.
- To identify potential differences in GBS presentation and recovery based on preceding infection.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 29 GBS patients diagnosed between March 2020 and March 2021.
- Stratification of patients into post-COVID-19 GBS and non-COVID-19 GBS groups.
- Assessment of functional disability using the GBS Disability Scale (GDS) and analysis of proteinorrachia levels.
Main Results:
- 10 patients (34.5%) had post-COVID-19 GBS, 19 (65.5%) had non-COVID-19 GBS.
- Longer median time from preceding event to symptom onset in post-COVID-19 GBS (p=0.04).
- No significant differences in GDS scores at admission, nadir, or discharge; similar time to nadir; higher proteinorrachia in post-COVID-19 GBS; AIDP most common subtype in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Post-COVID-19 GBS patients showed no significant differences in clinical or electrophysiological features compared to non-COVID-19 GBS patients.
- Disease course and patient outcomes were comparable between the two groups.
- COVID-19 does not appear to alter the fundamental characteristics or prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Background:
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an increasing number of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases following the infection has been reported. The aim of our study was to detect patients with GBS treated in our hospital over a 1-year period and to compare the characteristics and outcomes of those triggered by COVID-19 with the rest of GBS patients. Our prospective study included 29 patients who were diagnosed with GBS from March 2020 to March 2021. Based on the preceding event, patients were stratified as post-COVID-19 and non-COVID-19. The GBS disability scale (GDS) was used to assess functional disability.
Results:
We identified 10 (34.5%) patients with post-COVID-19 GBS and 19 (65.5%) patients with non-COVID-19 GBS. The median time from the preceding event to the symptoms onset was longer in post-COVID-19 than in non-COVID-19 GBS patients (p = 0.04). However, the time from the symptom onset to the nadir did not differ (p = 0.12). GDS at admission, as well as at nadir, did not differ between these two groups. The level of proteinorrachia was higher in post-COVID-19 GBS patients (p = 0.035). The most frequent subtype of GBS in both groups was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). GDS score at discharge (p = 0.56) did not differ between two study groups.
Conclusions:
There was no difference in clinical and electrophysiological features, disease course, and outcome in post-COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 GBS patients.
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