European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

POST-VACCINATION NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW FOCUSING ON GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME FOLLOWING COVID-19 VACCINATION

Sandeep Kumar Saxena, Shankar Gavaroji, Sweta Negi, Raj Kishore, Tanmay Ghosh, Chanchla Devi Haldkar, Ekta Pandey, Yash Srivastav and Uriti Sri Venkatesh*

ABSTRACT

Background: The global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been pivotal in controlling the pandemic. Although vaccines exhibit a strong safety profile, rare neurological adverse events, particularly Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), have been reported post-vaccination. Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on GBS following COVID-19 vaccination, focusing on incidence, clinical characteristics, pathophysiological mechanisms, and implications for vaccine safety. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library using keywords such as ―Guillain-Barré Syndrome,‖ ―GBS,‖ ―COVID-19 vaccine,‖ and ―neurological complications.‖ Inclusion criteria encompassed case reports, series, observational studies, and surveillance data. Data extraction focused on demographics, vaccine types, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes. Results: GBS cases temporally associated with COVID-19 vaccination remain rare. Adenoviral vector vaccines demonstrated a marginally higher incidence compared to mRNA and inactivated platforms. Clinical presentations aligned with classical and variant forms of GBS. Proposed mechanisms include molecular mimicry and immune dysregulation. Evidence quality is limited by reporting bias and lack of large-scale prospective studies. Conclusion: Despite isolated reports of GBS post-COVID-19 vaccination, the benefits of immunization far outweigh the risks. Continued surveillance and research into mechanistic pathways are essential for optimizing vaccine safety and public confidence.

Keywords: Guillain-Barré Syndrome; COVID-19 vaccine; neurological complications; vaccine safety; molecular mimicry; adenoviral vector vaccines; mRNA vaccines; immune dysregulation.