The impact of preceding infections on the clinical presentation and prognosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A focus on post-COVID-19 GBS

• Comparative analysis of GBS etiologies : this study contrasts Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outcomes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, and other infections (e.g., Campylobacter and Zika virus), revealing significant differences in disease severity and prognosis. • Increased severity in COVID-19-associated GBS : patients with COVID-19-associated GBS exhibit a higher rate of hospitalization (93.2 %) and substantial respiratory involvement, suggesting a more severe disease course compared to GBS caused by other infections. • Differential prognosis across pathogens : COVID-19-associated GBS patients show lower improvement rates (62 %) after IVIG or plasmapheresis compared to Campylobacter-associated cases, with long-term comorbidities being more pronounced. • Prognostic value of early symptoms : the severity of initial symptoms is a critical determinant of outcomes, with higher severity correlating with longer hospital stays and poorer prognoses, underscoring the importance of early and tailored clinical interventions. • Clinical and immunological implications : the study highlights the role of pathogen-specific immune responses (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) in shaping GBS prognosis, advocating for individualized clinical management strategies and further research to refine treatment approaches. This paper aims at comparing the results of GBS patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with those patients who have developed the condition due to other infections including Campylobacter and Zika virus. In all, 295 confirmed GBS cases following COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated and showed 93.2 % of higher hospitalisation and substantial respiratory involvement, suggesting that COVID-19 vaccinated GBS course is more severe than GBS with other infections. Although the GBS development in Campylobacter-associated cases is considered to reveal less severe symptoms and more favourable prognosis after IVIG or plasmapheresis application, only 62 percent of COVID-19-associated GBS patients demonstrated the improvement, and long-term comorbidity is more expressive. The study also emphasizes that early symptoms and its severity are the key components for establishing the prognosis of the disease; patients with higher initial symptom severity initially often experience longer stays in the hospital and statistically worse outcomes. Moreover, different immunity to pathogens, revealed by MAbs, are underlain by dissimilar prognosis depending on the cause of infection. Thus, these results emphasise the need for a highly tailored approach to clinical management of GBS patients that would involve attention to the infectious pathogen. More study is required to fine-tune medical approach and enhance people's well-being since pathogens change over the time. The findings of this scholarly work add to the current understanding of the diverse manifestations and characteristics of GBS and inform clinical practice regarding the post-infectious neurological sequelae of the disease more broadly.