Features of Guillain — Barre syndrome associated with COVID-19 infection

Abstract

In December 2019, an epidemic of coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2) emerged in Wuhan (China). In February 2020, the World Health Organization assigned the official name to the infection caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 — Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, which was accompanied by various neurological complications, including Guillain — Barre syndrome. The purpose — to study the features of Guillain — Barre syndrome (GBS) with a new COVID-19 infection. Results. Recently, various neurological complications of COVID-19 have been described: severe viral hemorrhagic encephalitis, toxic encephalopathy, acute demyelinating lesions, acute cerebral disorders blood circulation, etc. It is proposed to consider Guillain — Barre syndrome (GBS) a neurological complication of CO VID-19, since the main route of coronavirus infection is respiratory, and most patients with GBS describe a respiratory infection before the development of neurological symptoms. Typically, GBS develops 11-13 days after the onset of COVID-19. Recent studies have shown that GBS is one of the most common lesions of the peripheral nervous system in COVID-19. The clinical picture, as a rule, is represented by increasing flaccid tetraparesis, less often there is respiratory failure. In a pandemic, it is advisable to test patients with GBS for COVID-19 if there are no respiratory disorders, since laboratory signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection were detected in a number of patients with acute neuropathy. Given the higher demand for respiratory support in GBS patients infected with CoV-2, it is assumed that COVID-19 may trigger the progression of neurological symptoms. Diagnosing GBS in SARS-CoV-2 patients is particularly challenging because symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue can be misinterpreted as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 lung damage, delaying the timely diagnosis of GBS. Conclusion. Successful GBS management depends on clinical vigilance and its early diagnosis in patients with COVID-19.