COVID-19 and Guillain–Barré Syndrome

On April 17, 2020, the online New England Journal of Medicine published the correspondence Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with SARS-CoV-2. The paper was authored by a team of Italian physicians and describes a previously unreported potential association between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disease associated with ascending paresthesia and paralysis of the lower extremities.

The team reported that, of an estimated 1000 to 1200 patients with COVID-19 admitted to three hospitals in Northern Italy from February 28 through March 21, 2020, five patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome within 10 days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. In four of these patients, lower-limb weakness and paresthesia were among the first symptoms noted.

On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you the best of luck during these trying times. These are truly dark days, but they will pass.

To the heroes among us who have put their own health at risk by treating patients with COVID-19, thank you for your good work, your bravery and your courage. You make us all very proud and exceedingly grateful.