Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with Zika virus infection.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To communicate a series of cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome and to describe the clinical characteristics related to a possible association with previous infection due to Zika virus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive study of series of cases in which clinical, biochemical and demographic data were collected from patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome treated at the Hospital General Acapulco with a recent history of acute viral syndrome suspected of infection due to Zika virus, performed from July 24 to August 24, 2016, with conducting study of cerebrospinal fluid and ascertainment of cytological albuminous dissociation. A certainty diagnosis was established for Guillain-Barre syndrome according to the criteria of Asbury-Cornblath and Brighton. RESULTS: Ten patients with GBS and a recent history of acute viral syndrome compatible with Zika virus infection were included. The mean age was 47.8 years, 4 were male. The motor and sensitive deficits were developed at a median of 4.5 and 4.3 days, respectively after the onset of symptoms of viral infection. The complications found were ventilator-associated pneumonia, urinary tract infection and dysautonomia. CONCLUSIONS: All cases of this outbreak of Guillain-Barre syndrome had a recent history of suspected infection due to Zika virus, reinforcing the evidence for the association between Guillain-Barre syndrome and infection due to Zika virus.