Guillain-Barré Syndrome During the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic and Pre-pandemic Periods

Background: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease that may occur after infections. As Coronavirus Disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) may bring about GBS, it is important to assess the effect of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic on this disease Objectives: This study aimed to compare the distribution and characteristics of GBS during and before the COVID-۱۹ pandemic in an academic referral hospital in the north of Iran. Materials & Methods: This retrospective study assessed GBS distribution and characteristics during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic period (from March ۲۰۲۰ to the end of February ۲۰۲۱) and before the pandemic (from March ۲۰۱۹ to the end of February ۲۰۲۰) on ۵۳۴۰ patients referred to the Neurology Ward of Poursina Hospital of Guilan Province, in Iran. Results: There was no significant difference between GBS distribution during (۰.۰۳%) and before (۰.۰۴%) the COVID-۱۹ pandemic (P=۰.۴۱۳). There were also no differences between the two periods regarding the gender (P=۰.۶۵۹) and age (P=۰.۴۱۷) of the patients. The most common subtype of GBS during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic was Acute Motor and Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN) (۷۱.۴%). In both periods, the most common type of treatment was intravenous administration of immune globulin. There was no significant difference between the two periods (P=۰.۸۳۸) regarding the patients’ treatment response. Conclusion: The distribution of GBS, its subtypes, type of treatment, and response to treatment were not different between the two study periods.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Guillain-Barré syndrome , Autoimmune diseases