Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of polyneuropathy after COVID-19 vaccine

Mari Iseki, M.D.1), Hiroki Nakayama, M.D.1), Mutsufusa Watanabe, M.D., Ph.D.1), Ayumi Uchibori, M.D., Ph.D.2), Atsuro Chiba, M.D., Ph.D.2) and Saneyuki Mizutani, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1) Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital
2) Department of Neurology, Kyorin University Hospital

A 43-year-old-woman developed paresthesia, weakness of limbs, dysphagia and deep sensory impairment 12 days after vaccination of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Her deep tendon reflexes were absent and cerebrospinal fluid showed normal cell counts and protein level. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were negative, and F wave frequency was decreased in nerve conduction studies. We diagnosed her as immune mediated polyneuropathy caused by COVID-19 vaccine, and plasma exchange improved her symptoms. Compared with Guillain-Barré syndrome and polyneuropathy following COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, deep sensory impairment was the most characteristic of this case. We supposed that non-antigen specific mechanism played an important role in the pathogenesis of this case.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (484K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 62: 558|562, 2022)
key words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome

(Received: 10-Feb-22)