RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of neuroinflammation in covid-19
JF BMJ
JO BMJ
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e073923
DO 10.1136/bmj-2022-073923
VO 382
A1 Brown, Rachel L
A1 Benjamin, Laura
A1 Lunn, Michael P
A1 Bharucha, Tehmina
A1 Zandi, Michael S
A1 Hoskote, Chandrashekar
A1 McNamara, Patricia
A1 Manji, Hadi
YR 2023
UL https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj-2022-073923.abstract
AB Although neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are relatively rare, their potential long term morbidity and mortality have a significant impact, given the large numbers of infected patients. Covid-19 is now in the differential diagnosis of a number of common neurological syndromes including encephalopathy, encephalitis, acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis, stroke, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Physicians should be aware of the pathophysiology underlying these presentations to diagnose and treat patients rapidly and appropriately. Although good evidence has been found for neurovirulence, the neuroinvasive and neurotropic potential of SARS-CoV-2 is limited. The pathophysiology of most complications is immune mediated and vascular, or both. A significant proportion of patients have developed long covid, which can include neuropsychiatric presentations. The mechanisms of long covid remain unclear. The longer term consequences of infection with covid-19 on the brain, particularly in terms of neurodegeneration, will only become apparent with time and long term follow-up.