Guillan-barre syndrome during COVID-19 pandemic: a case series from Syria

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019, causing a global pandemic.
• While primarily respiratory, COVID-19 is associated with various neurological manifestations, including Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).
• GBS is recognized as a critical complication of COVID-19, affecting the peripheral nervous system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a series of seven patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome following or concurrent with Coronavirus infection.
• To document the clinical presentation, electrodiagnostic findings, and recovery patterns of these GBS patients.
• To contribute to the understanding of GBS as a neurological complication of COVID-19, particularly from the Middle East region.

Main Methods:

• Case series presentation of seven patients with GBS and COVID-19.
• Review of patient histories, neurological examinations, and diagnostic findings.
• Nerve conduction studies were performed to classify GBS subtypes.

Main Results:

• Seven patients with GBS following Coronavirus infection were analyzed.
• Nerve conduction studies revealed an axonal type in four patients and a demyelinating type in three.
• Neurological symptoms preceded COVID-19 diagnosis in two patients.
• Most patients demonstrated excellent recovery from GBS.

Conclusions:

• Guillain-Barre syndrome is a significant peripheral neurologic complication associated with Coronavirus infection.
• The findings underscore the importance of recognizing GBS in patients presenting with neurological symptoms during or after COVID-19.
• This study adds valuable data from Syria, expanding the literature on COVID-19-associated GBS in the Middle East.