A case series of parainfectious Guillain-Barré syndrome linked to influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.

ABSTRACT

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy characterized by a typical post-infectious profile. Some post-Zika virus and post-severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 GBS cases have been reported to occur with very short intervals between the infection and GBS onset. Evaluating 161 GBS patients consecutively admitted to two Italian Regional Hospitals between 2003 and 2019, we found that the only three with an antecedent influenza A (H1N1) virus infection developed GBS within an interval of less than 10 days from the influenza illness. The two of them with a demyelinating subtype promptly recovered without therapy. Overall, the parainfectious cases add heterogeneity to the GBS category, warranting pathogenetic insights.