Factors associated, symptoms, and treatments of guillain-barré syndrome: a narrative review

Abstract

AbstractObjective: To conduct a brief literature review on Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), its associated factors, and available treatments. Design: Literature review based on a narrative synthesis.Databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Study Selection: Documents were selected through a critical literature review, considering inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The literature analysis included a corpus of 15 articles, comprising 2 statistical analyses, 6 narrative reviews, 3 systematic reviews, 2 observational studies, and 2 clinical cases. The studies primarily involved a population of adult men and women, children, and pregnant women, mostly from low-income and vulnerable backgrounds. Patients diagnosed with GBS were associated with COVID-19, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES), Zika virus, and dengue. Conclusions: Research related to GBS highlights numerous causes and complications. GBS is significantly associated with muscle weakness, reduced mobility, and conditions such as SLE and PRES. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a slight increase in GBS cases was recorded. Although uncommon, GBS complications can lead to cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues. Research does not explore in-depth preventive strategies or early management of these complications. There are currently limited treatments available to improve patient outcomes.