Demographic, Clinical, and Investigational Characteristics of COVID-19- Related Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Differences from Typical and Another Virus-related Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Backgrounds: SARS-CoV-2 infection typically presents with fever and respiratory symptoms. Besides this, COVID-19-related central and peripheral nervous system manifestations are emerging.

Objectives: This study summarises the demographics, clinical profiles, laboratory findings, management strategies, and outcomes in a large number of patients with COVID-19-related GBS and its variants. We also compared its clinical profile with Zika and dengue virus-related GBS.

Methods: The authors carried out a literature search up to Dec 31, 2020, in MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar for all published articles.

Results: The study identified 54 different types of articles consisting of 70 cases from 17 countries worldwide. A maximum of 15 cases (21.4 %) were identified from Italy, followed by the USA (12; 17.1 %), Spain (11; 15.7 %), and Iran (10; 14.3 %). The age group that was more than 60 years had the most cases, i.e., 32 (45.7 %), followed by the age group 40-60 with 25 cases (35.7 %) with a male to female ratio of 2. Maximum cases were treated with IVIG infusion 58 (82.9 %), followed by Plasma exchange 13 (18.6 %) cases. Out of 70 cases, 7 (10 %) cases were manifested as Miller-Fisher syndrome. The most predominant electrodiagnostic variant was demyelinating neuropathy in 41 (73.21 %) cases. The outcome reported in 67 cases was survival in 63 (90 %) cases and death in 4 (5.7 %) cases.

Conclusion: Covid-19-related GBS were reported worldwide with a better outcome. Both postinfectious and parainfectious patterns were reported. Early recognition with prompt management of GBS can prevent further severe morbidity and mortality.