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COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kajumba, MM; Kolls, BJ; Koltai, DC; Kaddumukasa, M; Kaddumukasa, M; Laskowitz, DT
Published in: SN Compr Clin Med
2020

The concurrence of COVID-19 with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) can increase the likelihood of neuromuscular respiratory failure, autonomic dysfunction, and other life-threatening symptoms. Currently, very little is known about the underlying mechanisms, clinical course, and prognostic implications of comorbid COVID-19 in patients with GBS. We reviewed COVID-19-associated GBS case reports published since the outbreak of the pandemic, with a database search up to August 2020, including a manual search of the reference lists for additional relevant cases. Fifty-one (51) case reports of COVID-19 patients (aged 23-84 years) diagnosed with GBS in 11 different countries were included in this review. The results revealed atypical manifestations of GBS, including para-infectious profiles and onset of GBS without antecedent COVID-19 symptoms. Although all tested patients had signs of neuroinflammation, none had SARS-CoV-2 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and only four (4) patients had antiganglioside antibodies. The majority had a 1- to 10-day time interval between the onset of COVID-19 and GBS symptoms, and many had a poor outcome, with 20 out of the 51 (39.2%) requiring mechanical ventilation, and two deaths within 12 to 24 h. The atypical manifestations of COVID-19-associated GBS, especially the para-infectious profile and short time interval between the onset of the COVID-19 and GBS symptoms, increase the likelihood of symptom overlap, which can complicate the treatment and result in worsened disease progression and/or higher mortality rates. Inclusion of a neurological assessment during diagnosis of COVID-19 might facilitate timely identification and effective management of the GBS symptoms and improve treatment outcome.

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Published In

SN Compr Clin Med

DOI

EISSN

2523-8973

Publication Date

2020

Volume

2

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2702 / 2714

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • 4206 Public health
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Kajumba, M. M., Kolls, B. J., Koltai, D. C., Kaddumukasa, M., & Laskowitz, D. T. (2020). COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications. SN Compr Clin Med, 2(12), 2702–2714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-020-00646-w
Kajumba, Mayanja M., Brad J. Kolls, Deborah C. Koltai, Mark Kaddumukasa, Martin Kaddumukasa, and Daniel T. Laskowitz. “COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications.SN Compr Clin Med 2, no. 12 (2020): 2702–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-020-00646-w.
Kajumba MM, Kolls BJ, Koltai DC, Kaddumukasa M, Laskowitz DT. COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications. SN Compr Clin Med. 2020;2(12):2702–14.
Kajumba, Mayanja M., et al. “COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications.SN Compr Clin Med, vol. 2, no. 12, 2020, pp. 2702–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s42399-020-00646-w.
Kajumba MM, Kolls BJ, Koltai DC, Kaddumukasa M, Laskowitz DT. COVID-19-Associated Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Atypical Para-infectious Profile, Symptom Overlap, and Increased Risk of Severe Neurological Complications. SN Compr Clin Med. 2020;2(12):2702–2714.

Published In

SN Compr Clin Med

DOI

EISSN

2523-8973

Publication Date

2020

Volume

2

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2702 / 2714

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • 4206 Public health
  • 3202 Clinical sciences