COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barre syndrome differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barre syndrome should be differentiated from other causes of muscle weakness, hypotonia and flaccid paralysis such as botulism, Eaton Lambert syndrome, myasthenia gravis, electrolyte disturbance, organophosphate toxicity, tick paralysis (Dermacentor tick), tetrodotoxin poisoning, stroke, poliomyelitis, transverse myelitis, neurosyphilis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis exacerbation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and inflammatory myopathy.

Differential Diagnosis

COVID-19-associated Guillain-Barre syndrome should be differentiated from other causes of muscle weakness, hypotonia and flaccid paralysis such as botulism, Eaton Lambert syndrome, myasthenia gravis, electrolyte disturbance, organophosphate toxicity, tick paralysis (Dermacentor tick), tetrodotoxin poisoning, stroke, poliomyelitis, transverse myelitis, neurosyphilis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis exacerbation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and inflammatory myopathy.[1][1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Diseases History and Physical Diagnostic tests Other Findings
Motor Deficit Sensory deficit Cranial nerve Involvement Autonomic dysfunction Proximal/Distal/Generalized Ascending/Descending/Systemic Unilateral (UL)

or Bilateral (BL)

or

No Lateralization (NL)

Onset Lab or Imaging Findings Specific test
Guillian-Barre syndrome + - - - Generalized Ascending BL Insidious CSF: ↑Protein

↓Cells

Clinical & Lumbar Puncture Progressive ascending paralysis following infection, possible respiratory paralysis
Acute Flaccid Myelitis + + + - Proximal > Distal Ascending UL/BL Sudden MRI (Longitudinal hyperintense lesions) MRI and CSF PCR for viral etiology Drooping eyelids

Difficulty swallowing

Respiratory failure

Adult Botulism + - + + Generalized Descending BL Sudden Toxin test Blood, Wound, or Stool culture Diplopia, Hyporeflexia, Hypotonia, possible respiratory paralysis
Infant Botulism + - + + Generalized Descending BL Sudden Toxin test Blood, Wound, or Stool culture Flaccid paralysis (Floppy baby syndrome), possible respiratory paralysis
Eaton Lambert syndrome + - + + Generalized Systemic BL Intermittent EMG, repetitive nerve stimulation test (RNS) Voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibody Diplopia, ptosis, improves with movement (as the day progresses)
Myasthenia gravis + - + + Generalized Systemic BL Intermittent EMG, Edrophonium test Ach receptor antibody Diplopia, ptosis, worsening with movement (as the day progresses)
Electrolyte disturbance + + - - Generalized Systemic BL Insidious Electrolyte panel ↓Ca++, ↓Mg++, ↓K+ Possible arrhythmia
Organophosphate toxicity + + - + Generalized Ascending BL Sudden Clinical diagnosis: physical exam & history Clinical suspicion confirmed with RBC AchE activity History of exposure to insecticide or living in farming environment. with : Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis, Bradycardia, Lacrimation, Emesis, Salivation, Sweating
Tick paralysis (Dermacentor tick) + - - - Generalized Ascending BL Insidious Clinical diagnosis: physical exam & history - History of outdoor activity in Northeastern United States. The tick is often still latched to the patient at presentation (often in head and neck area)
Tetrodotoxin poisoning + - + + Generalized Systemic BL Sudden Clinical diagnosis: physical exam & dietary history - History of consumption of puffer fish species.
Stroke +/- +/- +/- +/- Generalized Systemic UL Sudden MRI +ve for ischemia or hemorrhage MRI Sudden unilateral motor and sensory deficit in a patient with a history of atherosclerotic risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking) or atrial fibrillation.
Poliomyelitis + + + +/- Proximal > Distal Systemic BL or UL Sudden PCR of CSF Asymmetric paralysis following a flu-like syndrome.
Transverse myelitis + + + + Proximal > Distal Systemic BL or UL Sudden MRI & Lumbar puncture MRI History of chronic viral or autoimmune disease (e.g. HIV)
Neurosyphilis + + - +/- Generalized Systemic BL Insidious MRI & Lumbar puncture CSF VDRL-specifc

CSF FTA-Ab -sensitive

History of unprotected sex or multiple sexual partners.

History of genital ulcer (chancre), diffuse maculopapular rash.

Muscular dystrophy + - - - Proximal > Distal Systemic BL Insidious Genetic testing Muscle biopsy Progressive proximal lower limb weakness with calf pseudohypertrophy in early childhood. Gower sign positive.
Multiple sclerosis exacerbation + + + + Generalized Systemic NL Sudden ↑CSF IgG levels

(monoclonal)

Clinical assessment and MRI Blurry vision, urinary incontinence, fatigue
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis + - - - Generalized Systemic BL Insidious Normal LP (to rule out DDx) MRI & LP Patient initially presents with upper motor neuron deficit (spasticity) followed by lower motor neuron deficit (flaccidity).
Inflammatory myopathy + - - - Proximal > Distal Systemic UL or BL Insidious Elevated CK & Aldolase Muscle biopsy Progressive proximal muscle weakness in 3rd to 5th decade of life. With or without skin manifestations.
  • COVID-19 associated Guillain-Barre syndrome:[17]
    • It has been reported in Northern Italy,United States, Iran
    • Affects mostly elderly people
    • More males are affected than females
    • Presence of Fever, cough, dyspnea, ageusia, hyposmia before the onset of GBS
    • Takes 5-14 days to develop GBS
    • Facial Diplegia common
    • Dysautonomia less common
    • Outcome is poor, residual weakness, dysphagia, long ICU stay


  • Differentiating from Typical Guillain-Barre syndrome:
    • Typical Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs worldwide
    • Affects all age groups,
    • Male 1.5 times more affected than females,
    • Presence of preceeding respiratory/gastrointestinal illness
    • Takes less than 6 weeks to develop GBS from initial illness
    • Facial Diplegia common
    • Dysautonomia common
    • Prognosis is good, persistent disability in 20%-30% cases
  • Differentiating from Zika virus-related Guillain-Barre syndrome:
    • Zika virus-related Guillain-Barre syndrome was reported in Latin America, Europe, East Asia, North America
    • Affects Middle aged people to elderly people
    • Males are more affected than females
    • Presence of fever, headache, rash, arthralgia, diarrhea, conjunctivitis before the onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome
    • Takes 0–10 days to develop Guillain-Barre syndrome
    • Facial Diplegia common >50% cases
    • Dysautonomia common up to 30% cases
    • Outcome is good, half may require ICU care

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kira R (February 2018). "[Acute Flaccid Myelitis]". Brain Nerve (in Japanese). 70 (2): 99–112. doi:10.11477/mf.1416200962. PMID 29433111.
  2. ↑ Hopkins SE (November 2017). "Acute Flaccid Myelitis: Etiologic Challenges, Diagnostic and Management Considerations". Curr Treat Options Neurol. 19 (12): 48. doi:10.1007/s11940-017-0480-3. PMID 29181601.
  3. ↑ Messacar K, Schreiner TL, Van Haren K, Yang M, Glaser CA, Tyler KL, Dominguez SR (September 2016). "Acute flaccid myelitis: A clinical review of US cases 2012-2015". Ann. Neurol. 80 (3): 326–38. doi:10.1002/ana.24730. PMC 5098271. PMID 27422805.
  4. ↑ Chong PF, Kira R, Mori H, Okumura A, Torisu H, Yasumoto S, Shimizu H, Fujimoto T, Hanaoka N, Kusunoki S, Takahashi T, Oishi K, Tanaka-Taya K (February 2018). "Clinical Features of Acute Flaccid Myelitis Temporally Associated With an Enterovirus D68 Outbreak: Results of a Nationwide Survey of Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Japan, August-December 2015". Clin. Infect. Dis. 66 (5): 653–664. doi:10.1093/cid/cix860. PMC 5850449. PMID 29028962.
  5. ↑ Messacar K, Asturias EJ, Hixon AM, Van Leer-Buter C, Niesters H, Tyler KL, Abzug MJ, Dominguez SR (August 2018). "Enterovirus D68 and acute flaccid myelitis-evaluating the evidence for causality". Lancet Infect Dis. 18 (8): e239–e247. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30094-X. PMID 29482893. Vancouver style error: initials (help)
  6. ↑ Chen IJ, Hu SC, Hung KL, Lo CW (September 2018). "Acute flaccid myelitis associated with enterovirus D68 infection: A case report". Medicine (Baltimore). 97 (36): e11831. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000011831. PMC 6133480. PMID 30200066.
  7. ↑ "Botulism | Botulism | CDC".
  8. ↑ McCroskey LM, Hatheway CL (May 1988). "Laboratory findings in four cases of adult botulism suggest colonization of the intestinal tract". J. Clin. Microbiol. 26 (5): 1052–4. PMC 266519. PMID 3290234.
  9. ↑ Lindström M, Korkeala H (April 2006). "Laboratory diagnostics of botulism". Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 19 (2): 298–314. doi:10.1128/CMR.19.2.298-314.2006. PMC 1471988. PMID 16614251.
  10. ↑ Brook I (2006). "Botulism: the challenge of diagnosis and treatment". Rev Neurol Dis. 3 (4): 182–9. PMID 17224901.
  11. ↑ Dimachkie MM, Barohn RJ (May 2013). "Guillain-Barré syndrome and variants". Neurol Clin. 31 (2): 491–510. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2013.01.005. PMC 3939842. PMID 23642721.
  12. ↑ Walling AD, Dickson G (February 2013). "Guillain-Barré syndrome". Am Fam Physician. 87 (3): 191–7. PMID 23418763.
  13. ↑ Gilhus NE (2011). "Lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome; pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy". Autoimmune Dis. 2011: 973808. doi:10.4061/2011/973808. PMC 3182560. PMID 21969911.
  14. ↑ Krishnan C, Kaplin AI, Deshpande DM, Pardo CA, Kerr DA (May 2004). "Transverse Myelitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment". Front. Biosci. 9: 1483–99. PMID 14977560.
  15. ↑ Amato AA, Greenberg SA (December 2013). "Inflammatory myopathies". Continuum (Minneap Minn). 19 (6 Muscle Disease): 1615–33. doi:10.1212/01.CON.0000440662.26427.bd. PMID 24305450.
  16. ↑ Berger JR, Dean D (2014). "Neurosyphilis". Handb Clin Neurol. 121: 1461–72. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-4088-7.00098-5. PMID 24365430.
  17. ↑ Gupta A, Paliwal VK, Garg RK (July 2020). "Is COVID-19-related Guillain-Barré syndrome different?". Brain Behav. Immun. 87: 177–178. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.051. PMC 7239011 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 32445789 Check |pmid= value (help).
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