Guillain-Barré syndrome in patients dying with COVID-19 in Italy: a retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction: We presented a four-case series of COVID-19 related deaths occurred in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) between February 2020 and January 2022 in Italy.

Methods: They were extracted from 8,436 medical charts of COVID-19 patients dying. All cases, ranged 48-73 years, showed classical GBS clinical onset - limb weakness, sensory deficits, hypoareflexia - and three of them were admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) for ventilator support.

Results: The cerebrospinal fluid showing albumin-cytological dissociation was performed in two cases. Nerve conduction studies supported the diagnosis in all cases. Interstitial pneumonia was documented by chest X-rays or CT scans in all cases: they were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and the drugs used for COVID-19 infection.

Conclusions: Although the mechanism of GBS onset is still unclear in COVID-19, fatal cases may be more frequent than other virus-related GBS, so that strictly monitoring in high-risk patients could dramatically decrease the mortality of GBS.