- Guillain-Barré syndrome has previously been reported in human coronavirus infections.1
- A first presumed case of acute Guillain-Barré syndrome “parainfectious” to COVID-19 was described in a 61-year-old woman who initially presented with lower-limb weakness. She developed respiratory symptoms eight days later and was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR assay.2
- Later, other cases of post-infectious Guillain-Barré syndrome were associated with this coronavirus in Italy and in the United States. These patients developed the first symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome 5 to 10 days after the onset of COVID-19.3,4
This information comes from correspondences in The Lancet and in The New England Journal of Medecine, and from a case report published in IDCases.
Sources:
- Kim J.E., Heo J.H., Kim H.O., et al., (July, 2017), Neurological Complications during Treatment of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Journal of Clinical Neurology, https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2017.13.3.227
- Zhao H., Dingding S., Haiyan Z., Liu J., Chen S., (April 01, 2020), The Lancet, Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: causality or coincidence? https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30109-5
- Virani A., Rabold E., Hanson T., Haag A., Elrufay R., Cheema T., Balaan M., Bhanot N., (April 18, 2020), Guillain- Barré Syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, IDCases, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e00771
- Toscano G., Palmerini F., Ravaglia S., Ruiz L., Invernizzi P., Cuzzoni M.G., Franciotta D., Baldanti F., Daturi R., Postorino P., Cavallini A., Micieli G., (April 17, 2020), Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with SARS-CoV-2, The New England Journal of Medecine, https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2009191