Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Recent findings demonstrate that the transmigration of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the nervous system implicates severe neurotropic pathologies, including the onset of the rare disease called Guillain–Barré syndrome (G...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/12/1835 |
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| author | Skylar A. Bentley Sarfraz Ahmad Firas H. Kobeissy Hale Z. Toklu |
| author_facet | Skylar A. Bentley Sarfraz Ahmad Firas H. Kobeissy Hale Z. Toklu |
| author_sort | Skylar A. Bentley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Recent findings demonstrate that the transmigration of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the nervous system implicates severe neurotropic pathologies, including the onset of the rare disease called Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) which is characterized by immune-mediated polyneuropathy. This study aimed to identify the predisposing factors and the clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced GBS. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: We have performed an analysis of 147 cases. A systematic review of the published research work was performed per the PRISMA statement to obtain individual participant data (IPD) for the meta-analysis. The search was conducted through PubMed, using the combined search terms “Guillain–Barré syndrome” and “COVID-19”. All case reports and series in the English language with accessed full text were included in the search. <i>Results</i>: A systematic database search led to the retrieval of 112 peer-reviewed articles published between 1 April 2020, and 8 February 2022. The articles comprised 16 case series and 96 case reports containing IPD for 147 patients. Our findings showed that 77.6% of all cases were 40 years or older. Males comprised most of the cases (65.3%; <i>n</i> = 96). The intensive care unit (ICU) admission was 44.9%, and the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) was 38.1%. The patients presented with hyporeflexia or areflexia (84.4%; <i>n</i> = 124), lower limb strength and sensation impairment (93.2%; <i>n</i> = 138), upper limb strength and sensation impairment (85.7; <i>n</i> = 126), and somatic sensation impairment (72.8%; <i>n</i> = 107). The patients presented with increased cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) protein levels (92%; <i>n</i> = 92) and the presence of CSF albuminocytological dissociation (83.5%; <i>n</i> = 71). The most common variant of GBS observed was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). We found that predisposing factors concomitant with COVID-19 and GBS were male gender and older age. Among the cases, patient mortality was 10.9%. <i>Conclusions</i>: A gap of knowledge exists regarding the complete spectrum of clinical characteristics of COVID-19-related GBS. Recent findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 triggers GBS, as it follows a similar para-infectious pattern as the other viral agents contributing to the onset of GBS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:07:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-031f5a8ade68406f9f03785076672920 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:07:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-031f5a8ade68406f9f037850766729202023-11-24T16:33:32ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442022-12-015812183510.3390/medicina58121835Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of CasesSkylar A. Bentley0Sarfraz Ahmad1Firas H. Kobeissy2Hale Z. Toklu3College of Health Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USACollege of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USADepartment of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USACollege of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Recent findings demonstrate that the transmigration of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the nervous system implicates severe neurotropic pathologies, including the onset of the rare disease called Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) which is characterized by immune-mediated polyneuropathy. This study aimed to identify the predisposing factors and the clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced GBS. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: We have performed an analysis of 147 cases. A systematic review of the published research work was performed per the PRISMA statement to obtain individual participant data (IPD) for the meta-analysis. The search was conducted through PubMed, using the combined search terms “Guillain–Barré syndrome” and “COVID-19”. All case reports and series in the English language with accessed full text were included in the search. <i>Results</i>: A systematic database search led to the retrieval of 112 peer-reviewed articles published between 1 April 2020, and 8 February 2022. The articles comprised 16 case series and 96 case reports containing IPD for 147 patients. Our findings showed that 77.6% of all cases were 40 years or older. Males comprised most of the cases (65.3%; <i>n</i> = 96). The intensive care unit (ICU) admission was 44.9%, and the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) was 38.1%. The patients presented with hyporeflexia or areflexia (84.4%; <i>n</i> = 124), lower limb strength and sensation impairment (93.2%; <i>n</i> = 138), upper limb strength and sensation impairment (85.7; <i>n</i> = 126), and somatic sensation impairment (72.8%; <i>n</i> = 107). The patients presented with increased cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) protein levels (92%; <i>n</i> = 92) and the presence of CSF albuminocytological dissociation (83.5%; <i>n</i> = 71). The most common variant of GBS observed was acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP). We found that predisposing factors concomitant with COVID-19 and GBS were male gender and older age. Among the cases, patient mortality was 10.9%. <i>Conclusions</i>: A gap of knowledge exists regarding the complete spectrum of clinical characteristics of COVID-19-related GBS. Recent findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 triggers GBS, as it follows a similar para-infectious pattern as the other viral agents contributing to the onset of GBS.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/12/1835SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Guillain–Barré syndromeGBSmeta-analysisneurological complications |
| spellingShingle | Skylar A. Bentley Sarfraz Ahmad Firas H. Kobeissy Hale Z. Toklu Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases Medicina SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Guillain–Barré syndrome GBS meta-analysis neurological complications |
| title | Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases |
| title_full | Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases |
| title_fullStr | Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases |
| title_short | Concomitant Guillain–Barré Syndrome and COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Cases |
| title_sort | concomitant guillain barre syndrome and covid 19 a meta analysis of cases |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Guillain–Barré syndrome GBS meta-analysis neurological complications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/12/1835 |
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