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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neuromuscular Disorders and Peripheral Neuropathies
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1557515
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Review of Five Diet-Induced Cases and Nineteen Bariatric Surgery Cases
Provisionally accepted- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Anhui Province, China
- 2 Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Yuhua District, Changsha, China, Changsha, Anhui Province, China
- 3 Changsha Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Obesity is a worldwide health concern frequently addressed by weight reduction strategies, including bariatric surgery and restricted diets. While effective, these approaches can result in complications, including Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious autoimmune disorder. This study presents five cases of GBS that developed during active dieting due to significant weight loss. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of these patients admitted to our institution between August 2012 and August 2022, analyzing their clinical presentations, laboratory results, neurophysiological findings, and nutritional status during treatment.Additionally, we conducted a literature review to compare these cases with nineteen previously reported instances of bariatric surgery-associated GBS. All five patients exhibited acute, symmetrical limb weakness, primarily in the lower extremities, and diminished tendon reflexes. Neurophysiological assessments indicated axonal damage in each case, with albuminocytologic dissociation present in two. Three patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), while the remaining received nutritional therapy. All achieved full recovery within six months. Notably, the rate of weight loss in our cases far exceeded the recommended safe weight loss guidelines, suggesting a potential role for rapid weight reduction in precipitating GBS. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for favorable outcomes and preventing further complications.
Keywords: Guillain-Barré syndrome, Weight Loss, Bariatric Surgery, restrictive diets, Nutritional deficiencies
Received: 10 Jan 2025; Accepted: 10 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wu, Li, Hu, Xu, Feng, Zhou, Wang and Zeng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Wengao Zeng, Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Yuhua District, Changsha, China, Changsha, Anhui Province, China
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