Introduction and objective:
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is considered a neurological disease that attacks the peripheral nerves in an autoimmune mechanism. Although the exact etiology is uncertain, most cases are preceded by infections or vaccines. The novel coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 – responsible for COVID-19 pandemic has brought new concerns about GBS cases in the context of morbidity and vaccination. The aim of the review is to present GBS characteristics and research the topics of GBS manifesting after SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as vaccination, in order to summarize the available data and to assess the link between SARS-CoV-2 and GBS.

Review methods:
This scoping review was conducted with use of PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases and ‘https://gov.uk’ website. The sources ranged mainly from 2019–2024.

Brief description of the state of knowledge:
The clinical presentation of GBS depends on a variant, although similar in both COVID-19-related GBS and non-COVID-19-related GBS. The most prevalent GBS variant is acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, with men of older age are more likely to develop the disease. Regarding pathogenesis, a few possible mechanisms have been suggested for SARS-CoV-2 to reach the nervous system, including ACE2 and NRP. For vaccines, similarity between vaccine contents and gangliosides may generate immune cross-reactivity, which induces anti-ganglioside autoantibodies production. The antibodies target neuronal antigens and cause damage to the nervous system.

Summary:
GBS cases associated with both COVID-19 vaccines and infection have been observed. Adenovirus-vectored vaccines have been reported as higher-risk in comparison with mRNA-based vaccines; most GBS cases occurred after the first dose of the vaccine. COVID-19-related GBS is probably developed in a post-infection mechanism.