Emergency Department Case: Covid-19 Related Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Division

East Florida

Hospital

Kendall Regional Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

7-7-2021

Keywords

sars-cov-2, coronavirus infections, COVID-19, guillain-barre syndrome

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine | Infectious Disease | Nervous System Diseases | Virus Diseases

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) is commonly associated with respiratory compromise. However, a wide range of neurologic syndromes have been reported over the past year. Of these complications, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has manifested in several Covid-19 patients following initial illness. This case report describes a 57-year-old male who presented with acute onset symmetric bilateral lower extremity weakness after a recent Covid-19 infection.

In the emergency department, his cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed an albuminocytologic dissociation consistent with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was initiated, and the patient was admitted to the hospital. As the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 cases increases, emergency physicians must keep a high index of suspicion for patients with weakness or areflexia following a recent Covid-19 infection. The ability to recognize the disease process in the emergency department could lead to lifesaving supportive care and early treatment.

Publisher or Conference

EM Pulse Magazine

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