Guillain-Barre syndrome following the first dose of the chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, ChAdOx1

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 14; no. 4; p. e242956
• Main Authors: Patel, Shreena Umit, Khurram, Ruhaid, Lakhani, Anjali, Quirk, Bernadine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 22-04-2021; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adenoviruses, Simian; Adult; Animals; Blood; Case Report; Case reports; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccines - adverse effects; Cytomegalovirus; Disease transmission; Epstein-Barr virus; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - chemically induced; Humans; Intensive care; Male; Neurology; Pain; Pan troglodytes; Pandemics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Ventilators; United Kingdom > UK; COVID-19; healthcare improvement and patient safety; radiology; neurology; vaccination/immunisation
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-242956

Prevention strategies for COVID-19 transmission are at the forefront of healthcare paradigms worldwide, the main emphasis of which is vaccination. We present an interesting case of a 37-year-old man who, 3 weeks following his first dose of the chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, ChAdOx1, presented to hospital with a rapidly progressive ascending muscle weakness and back pain in the absence of any other triggers. He also had a negative COVID-19 swab during admission. A diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome was confirmed by correlating the clinical features with cerebrospinal fluid analysis, nerve conduction studies and MRI of the brain and whole spine. The patient received treatment with 5 days of intravenous immunoglobulin and did not require any respiratory support. He was also regularly reviewed by a multidisciplinary team consisting of neurologists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists and is on the course to a recovery.