COVID-19 virus may have neuroinvasive potential and cause neurological complications: a perspective review

J Neurovirol. 2020 Jun;26(3):324-329. doi: 10.1007/s13365-020-00851-2. Epub 2020 May 16.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported at the end of 2019 in China for the first time and has rapidly spread throughout the world as a pandemic. Since COVID-19 causes mild to severe acute respiratory syndrome, most studies in this field have only focused on different aspects of pathogenesis in the respiratory system. However, evidence suggests that COVID-19 may affect the central nervous system (CNS). Given the outbreak of COVID-19, it seems necessary to perform investigations on the possible neurological complications in patients who suffered from COVID-19. Here, we reviewed the evidence of the neuroinvasive potential of coronaviruses and discussed the possible pathogenic processes in CNS infection by COVID-19 to provide a precise insight for future studies.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Nervous system; Neuroinvasion; Transmission routes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ataxia / complications
  • Ataxia / diagnosis
  • Ataxia / epidemiology*
  • Ataxia / virology
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / virology
  • Brain Edema / complications
  • Brain Edema / diagnosis
  • Brain Edema / epidemiology*
  • Brain Edema / virology
  • COVID-19
  • Central Nervous System / pathology
  • Central Nervous System / virology
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Encephalitis, Viral / complications
  • Encephalitis, Viral / diagnosis
  • Encephalitis, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / virology
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / epidemiology*
  • Epilepsy / virology
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / virology
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / complications
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / transmission