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Review
. 2019 Dec 31;7(4):137-142.
doi: 10.2478/jtim-2019-0028. eCollection 2019 Dec.

Influenza Vaccination and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Reality or Fear

Arefeh Babazadeh  1 , Zeinab Mohseni Afshar  2 , Mostafa Javanian  1 , Mousa Mohammadnia-Afrouzi  1 , Ahmad Karkhah  3 , Jila Masrour-Roudsari  1 , Parisa Sabbagh  1 , Veerendra Koppolu  4 , Veneela KrishnaRekha Vasigala  5 , Soheil Ebrahimpour  1
Affiliations
Review

Influenza Vaccination and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Reality or Fear

Arefeh Babazadeh et al. J Transl Int Med. .

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder and an acute immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathy that causes reduced signal transmissions, progressive muscle weakness, and paralysis. The etiology of the syndrome still remains controversial and uncertain. GBS can be initiated and triggered by respiratory tract infections such as influenza, and intestinal infections such as Campylobacter jejuni. In addition, there is considerable evidence suggesting links between influenza vaccination and GBS. As reported previously, the incidence of GBS in individuals receiving swine flu vaccine was about one to two cases per million. Despite the influenza vaccine efficacy, its association with an immune-mediated demyelinating process can be challenging as millions of people get vaccinated every year. In this review we will discuss the association between influenza infection and vaccination with GBS by focusing on the possible immunopathological mechanisms.

Keywords: Guillain–Barré syndrome; flu vaccination; influenza.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest There are no conflicts of interest.

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