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O049 - AUTOIMMUNE NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS FOLLOWING COVID-19 VACCINES (ID 205)
Abstract
Background and Aims
We aimed to present the autoimmune neurological manifestations of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations as the following pathologies:
Methods
Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune neurological disease leading to acute flaccid paralysis. While there is some evidence of increased incidence of GBS following the ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccine, it is still unclear whether GBS occurs following the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines. According to the UK Health Security Agency the risk of developing GBS after the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine adds 5.6 extra cases of GBS per million doses, while having no association to the second dose. Transverse myelitis, an immune mediated damage to spinal cord, resulting in paralysis, sensory alterations, and autonomic dysfunction. A rare subtype of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis began to emerge from case reports following AstraZeneca vaccine. Most cases occurred in patients under 60 years of age who presented with neurological symptoms starting within 3 weeks of the first dose of the vaccine. Regarding transverse myelitis after the Pfizer vaccine, two patients developed acute transverse myelitis, with a rate of 0.28 per 100,000 cases. Furthermore, only very few cases have been reported after receiving the Moderna vaccine.
Results
Bell’s palsy, a unilateral facial paralysis was reported following Pfizer vaccine. A review of published literature failed to identify case reports of isolated Bell’s palsy linked to the AstraZeneca vaccination.
Conclusions
Conclusion: Neurological adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination are a rarity. However, further investigation and documentation is needed, especially regarding GBS after the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.