High proportion of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with chikungunya in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

From 2013 to 2015, sanitary authorities reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) in French Polynesia, Caribbean, and Brazil.1–3 After the end of ZIKV epidemics, GBS cases where still above the usual limits in countries where the arrival of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was also a concern.3 The authors would like to thank Professor Steven S. Witkin from Weill Cornell Medicine for constructive comments and kindness in editing the manuscript, Vânia Maria Alves de Araujo from the Hospital Geral de Fortaleza for the laboratory assistance, and Rosa Maria Nascimento Marcusso from Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas for the organizational support and revision of statistical analysis.