Guillain-Barré Syndrome After COVID19 Vaccination: A Single-Center Study in Tunisia and 1 Year Follow-Up
Rania Zouari1*, Dina Ben Mohamed1, Mohamed Zakaria Saeid1, Fatma Nabli1, Samia Ben Sassi1
1Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Neurology department, Mongi Ben Hmida National Institute of Neurology of Tunis, Tunisia.
*Corresponding Author: Rania Zouari, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Neurology department, Mongi Ben Hmida National Institute of Neurology of Tunis, Tunisia.
https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOANE.2024.06.018
Received: April 27, 2025
Published: July 08, 2025
Citation: Zouari R, Mohamed DB, Saeid MZ, Nabli F, Sassi SB. Guillain-Barre Syndrome After COVID19 Vaccination: A Single-Center Study in Tunisia and 1 Year Follow-Up. SVOA Neurology 2025, 6:4, 91-97. doi. 10.58624/SVOANE.2024.06.018
Abstract
Introduction: After the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several research teams looked for developing vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and a mass vaccination campaign started worldwide. Since then, few neurological side effects of COVID-19 vaccination were reported mainly demyelinating diseases. We aimed to describe the clinical features of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following COVID-19 vaccination and follow-up in order to identify the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine side effects on peripheral nerves.
Material and Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study including patients who developed GBS after a COVID-19 vaccination (≤30 days). The clinical, laboratory, electroneuromyogram (ENMG) characteristics and follow-up data were collected and analyzed.
Results: We collected 8 patients (2 males and 6 females) with no history of COVID-19 infection. Neurological symptoms suggestive of GBS occurred at a mean time of 10 days following the COVID-19 vaccination. All patients developed a mild phenotype with a progressively ascending weakness and paresthesia, 3 patients had autonomic disturbances but none needed ventilatory assistance. Regarding Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, classical albumin-cytological dissociation was detected in 6 patients. On ENMG, 7 patients fulfilled the electrophysiological criteria of a typical acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (AIDP). Our cases were given intravenous immunoglobulin with a good outcome within a few days. After 1 year of follow-up, 6 patients showed full recovery.
Conclusions: Although the causal relation between COVID-19 vaccination and GBS is yet not confirmed, the GBS following the COVID-19 vaccination appears to be quite gentle and recovery seems to be rapid and complete.
Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome, COVID19 vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 infection, Adverse events, Follow-up
