Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following AstraZeneca COVID-19-Vaccination: Two Cases Report Study

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy. It is recognized as a serious condition, because it includes dysautonomia and respiratory affection. In fact, there have been an increasing number of reports about GBS vaccine-related vaccinations as the COVID-19 vaccination campaign goes on. Here, we report two cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Symptoms appeared 21 days after vaccination, with acute progressive bilateral symmetric ascending flaccid tetra-paresis. The electromyography was compatible with a motor demyelinating polyneuropathy, confirming the diagnosis of the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Management with intravenous immunoglobulin was prescribed, with favorable outcomes. Clinical and laboratory tests confirmed the Guillain-Barré syndrome and the period from the date of vaccination to the appearance of initial symptoms, added to the absence of other causes, allowed to assume that the vaccination could be the cause. The literature is still unable to determine the pathogenesis of GBS due to COVID-19 vaccination. However, the findings underscore the importance of continuous surveillance and investigation into potential adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing the need for informed decision-making and vigilant monitoring in vaccination campaigns.