SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Striking a Nerve: A Case of Post-Covid Induced Guillain-Barre Syndrome

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This case describes a 38-year-old woman with anxiety and a recent COVID-19 infection who developed one week of progressively ascending numbness and tingling. Her symptoms began about four days after COVID-19 onset, first in both feet and then spreading upward to the abdomen, with additional numbness in the right upper arm. On examination, she had reduced pain and temperature sensation below the T4 level, preserved strength, intact cranial nerves, and an unsteady gait.<br /><br />Initial workup was largely unremarkable, including normal CT head, MRI cervical and thoracic spine, basic labs, thyroid studies, B12, RPR, and SPEP. Lumbar puncture showed mildly elevated CSF protein with normal glucose and only 5 nucleated cells, a pattern supportive of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). CSF culture was negative. EMG/NCS was unremarkable, but neurology diagnosed GBS based on the clinical picture and recent COVID-19 infection.<br /><br />The patient was treated with five days of IVIG and improved, regaining partial sensation in her upper and lower extremities. She was discharged with outpatient neurology follow-up and continued to improve after discharge.<br /><br />The report highlights that GBS is an immune-mediated neuropathy often triggered by infection, including COVID-19. While classic GBS causes ascending weakness, sensory-predominant variants can occur. In patients with recent viral illness and progressive ascending neurologic symptoms, GBS should remain an important diagnostic consideration.

Asset Subtitle

Yoo Mee Shin

Meta Tag

Author List Allie Goins, Allyson Herbst, Erica Han, Prathima Pangular, Yoo Mee Shin

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Concept Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Concept Total Plasma Exchange

Concept Immune-Mediated Neuropathy

Concept Ascending Weakness

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Emory University

Presenting Author Yoo Mee Shin

Track Adult

Keywords

Guillain-Barré syndrome

COVID-19 infection

ascending numbness

paresthesia

sensory neuropathy

IVIG treatment

cerebrospinal fluid protein

lumbar puncture

immune-mediated neuropathy

neurology diagnosis

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Total Plasma Exchange

Immune-Mediated Neuropathy

Ascending Weakness