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Guillain-Barré syndrome and COVID-19: an observational multicentre study from two Italian hotspot regions.
- Source :
-
Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry [J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry] 2021 Jul; Vol. 92 (7), pp. 751-756. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 06. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Objective: Single cases and small series of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have been reported during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak worldwide. We evaluated incidence and clinical features of GBS in a cohort of patients from two regions of northern Italy with the highest number of patients with COVID-19.<br />Methods: GBS cases diagnosed in 12 referral hospitals from Lombardy and Veneto in March and April 2020 were retrospectively collected. As a control population, GBS diagnosed in March and April 2019 in the same hospitals were considered.<br />Results: Incidence of GBS in March and April 2020 was 0.202/100 000/month (estimated rate 2.43/100 000/year) vs 0.077/100 000/month (estimated rate 0.93/100 000/year) in the same months of 2019 with a 2.6-fold increase. Estimated incidence of GBS in COVID-19-positive patients was 47.9/100 000 and in the COVID-19-positive hospitalised patients was 236/100 000. COVID-19-positive patients with GBS, when compared with COVID-19-negative subjects, showed lower MRC sum score (26.3±18.3 vs 41.4±14.8, p=0.006), higher frequency of demyelinating subtype (76.6% vs 35.3%, p=0.011), more frequent low blood pressure (50% vs 11.8%, p=0.017) and higher rate of admission to intensive care unit (66.6% vs 17.6%, p=0.002).<br />Conclusions: This study shows an increased incidence of GBS during the COVID-19 outbreak in northern Italy, supporting a pathogenic link. COVID-19-associated GBS is predominantly demyelinating and seems to be more severe than non-COVID-19 GBS, although it is likely that in some patients the systemic impairment due to COVID-19 might have contributed to the severity of the whole clinical picture.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1468-330X
- Volume :
- 92
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33158914
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2020-324837