Linking in placental alterations, Zika virus, and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract Zika fever is an important arbovirus, transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus but also by other routes including sexual contact, blood transfusion, and vertical transmission. The etiological agent of this illness, Zika virus (ZIKV), causes an epidemic that occurred in Latin America in 2015–17 and quickly became a worldwide public health concern, with the increase in cases of microcephaly and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in babies and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in adults. In this chapter, we will approach permissiveness and placental changes resulting from ZIKV infection, which can lead to vertical transmission and worsen fetal development conditions. In addition, we will discuss the association of ZIKV with GBS and its clinical aspects and a case of a pregnant patient who had GBS and miscarriage due to ZIKV infection.