Rise in Guillain-Barré syndrome following AstraZeneca vaccine

GBS is a rare but serious autoimmune condition that attacks the peripheral nervous system - Graphic produced in  BioRENDER  by Dr Stephen Keddie (UCL): In typical GBS, virus particles stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies which detect both viral surface proteins, but also proteins on the surface of peripheral nerves which cause 'auto-immune' destruction. A correlation between a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a small but significant rise in cases of the serious neurological condition Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), has been identified by UCL scientists, as part of an analysis of NHS data. However, researchers say it remains unclear what the cause of the link is; furthermore the small numbers of GBS cases observed appear similar to increases previously seen in other mass vaccination campaigns. The same team, based at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, had previously shown there was no measurable link between Covid-19 infection and GBS; this subsequent study set out to investigate any relationship between GBS and Covid-19 vaccination. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare but serious autoimmune condition that attacks the peripheral nervous system, typically resulting in numbness, weakness and pain in the limbs and sometimes resulting in paralysis of breathing. GBS often occurs after infections, particularly a gastroenteritis infection called  Camplylobacter , with the immune system mistakenly attacking nerves rather than germs. GBS is usually reversible, however in severe cases it can cause prolonged paralysis involving breathing muscles, require ventilator support and sometimes leave permanent neurological deficits.