Guillain-Barre Syndrome As An Emerging Side Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: A Literature Review

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our review aims to study the significance of the association between the manifestations of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19 immunization, as well as provide medical practitioners with relevant clinical information through a detailed summary of the current cases of GBS related to the COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, we will shed light on the impact of associated demographic risk factors such as age, gender, and comorbid conditions in the development of GBS post-vaccination. Background: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare and potentially fatal post-infectious, immune-mediated neuropathy characterized by rapidly progressive weakness and ascending paralysis. As an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccines, GBS is becoming an arising catastrophe increasingly reported as a complication of the COVID-19 vaccines. Design/Methods: A literature search was conducted across four databases PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline (through PubMed), and Google Scholar using predefined keywords. These keywords included “Guillain Barre Syndrome, ” “COVID-19 vaccination”, “COVID-19”. The search criteria were set to filter cases of GBS in post-COVID-19 vaccination, reported between March 2020 to October 2021. Results: A total of eighteen articles were selected from peer-reviewed journals which documented twenty-eight patients (ages ranged between 20-82 years old) that had developed GBS after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations;fifteen males and thirteen females. GBS side effects were reported with five COVID-19 vaccines including Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, AstraZeneca (now called Vaxzevria), and a vector-based vaccine. In addition, the average duration between COVID-19 vaccine administration and GBS symptoms onset was noted to be 12.46 days. Conclusions: Although it is too early to draw conclusions concerning GBS following COVID-19 vaccination, we recommend monitoring for cases suggestive of GBS following vaccination and implementing post-vaccination surveillance to ensure adequate data gathering of this outcome, as well as to determine its cause. Additionally, we encourage even further large-scale research into this area.