학술논문
COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome in the early pandemic experience in Lombardia (Italy)
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
Martinelli-Boneschi, Filippo; Colombo, Antonio; Bresolin, Nereo; Sessa, Maria; Bassi, Pietro; Grampa, Giampiero; Magni, Eugenio; Versino, Maurizio; Ferrarese, Carlo; Zarcone, Davide; Albanese, Alberto; Micieli, Giuseppe; Zanferrari, Carla; Cagnana, Antonio; Ferrante, Claudio; Zilioli, Angelo; Locatelli, Davide; Calloni, Maria Vittoria; Delodovici, Maria Luisa; Pozzato, Mattia; Patisso, Valerio; Bortolan, Francesco; Foresti, Camillo; Frigeni, Barbara; Canella, Stefania; Xhani, Rubjona; Crabbio, Massimo; Clemenzi, Alessandro; Mauri, Marco; Beretta, Simone; La Spina, Isidoro; Bernasconi, Simona; De Santis, Tiziana; Cavallini, Anna; Ranieri, Michela; D’Adda, Elisabetta; Fruguglietti, Maria Elisa; Peverelli, Lorenzo; Agosti, Edoardo; Leoni, Olivia; Rigamonti, Andrea; Salmaggi, Andrea
Source
Neurological Sciences. 44(2):437-446
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1590-1874
1590-3478
1590-3478
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the incidence and describe clinical characteristics and outcome of GBS in COVID-19 patients (COVID19-GBS) in one of the most hit regions during the first pandemic wave, Lombardia.Methods: Adult patients admitted to 20 Neurological Units between 1/3–30/4/2020 with COVID19-GBS were included as part of a multi-center study organized by the Italian society of Hospital Neuroscience (SNO).Results: Thirty-eight COVID19-GBS patients had a mean age of 60.7 years and male frequency of 86.8%. CSF albuminocytological dissociation was detected in 71.4%, and PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in 19 tested patients. Based on neurophysiology, 81.8% of patients had a diagnosis of AIDP, 12.1% of AMSAN, and 6.1% of AMAN. The course was favorable in 76.3% of patients, stable in 10.5%, while 13.2% worsened, of which 3 died. The estimated occurrence rate in Lombardia ranges from 0.5 to 0.05 GBS cases per 1000 COVID-19 infections depending on whether you consider positive cases or estimated seropositive cases. When we compared GBS cases with the pre-pandemic period, we found a reduction of cases from 165 to 135 cases in the 2-month study period in Lombardia.Conclusions: We detected an increased incidence of GBS in COVID-19 patients which can reflect a higher risk of GBS in COVID-19 patients and a reduction of GBS events during the pandemic period possibly due to a lower spread of more common respiratory infectious diseases determined by an increased use of preventive measures.