Finger Drop-Dominant Variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in a Patient With COVID-19: A Case Report

J Korean Med Sci. 2022 May 23;37(20):e160. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e160.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that may trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in selected patients. We describe a case of GBS presenting as marked finger extensor weakness in a 73-year-old woman with COVID-19. Her clinical and electrophysiological findings were consistent with a diagnosis of acute motor axonal neuropathy subtype of GBS with prominent finger dropping. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin for 5 days completely resolved her finger extension weakness after 19 months, although other involved extremities recovered earlier at 3 months. This study highlights that COVID-19-associated GBS can present in various forms aside from the classic variant, even in patients without any COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, it is important to always consider the diagnosis of GBS in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Finger Drop; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome* / complications
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Muscle Weakness
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous