Incidence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To describe the possible relationship between the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic and the incidence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Methods: This is an Integrative Literature Review. The search was based on the databases PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online, Science Direct and Science.gov. The research included were full articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish; regardless of sex, ethnicity or age group. Results: The direct relationship between Covid-19 infection and the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome has not yet been proven due to the need for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors as a gateway for the virus to the Peripheral Nervous System. GBS is rare after vaccination against Covid-19, although it occurs in several countries. Although rare, it is a possible adverse event and has been reported at other times, such as throughout the campaign against Influenza. After evaluating the risk factors, vaccines using an adenoviral vector were associated with a higher incidence of the syndrome when compared to those using mRNA. Final Considerations: The scarcity of concrete studies regarding the direct correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infections or even vaccines with the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome leads to the need for detailed epidemiological studies.