Pathophysiology and Clinical Characteristics of Neuropathies in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review
Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 possesses neurotropic and neuroinvasive capabilities that can generate neurological manifestations; however, the identification of patients with peripheral nervous system manifestations may go unnoticed. Objectives: To describe the pathophysiology and clinical characteristi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidad de Antioquia
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Iatreia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/353896 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 possesses neurotropic and neuroinvasive capabilities that can generate neurological manifestations; however, the identification of patients with peripheral nervous system manifestations may go unnoticed.
Objectives: To describe the pathophysiology and clinical characteristics of neuropathies in patients with COVID-19.
Methodology: The information used in this review was collected from four bibliographic databases: PubMed, Clinical Key, Scielo, and Scopus. Articles in Spanish and English published between January 2019 and January 2022 were included. Cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and case reports were analyzed.
Results: There are mechanisms that explain the neuroinvasive capacity of SARS-CoV-2, such as direct infection, underlying axonal transport, and hematogenous transport across the blood-brain barrier. These mechanisms can generate various neuropathies, with anosmia and ageusia being the most frequent symptoms. Other manifestations have been reported, including sensorimotor polyneuropathy, facial nerve neuropathy, ocular motor neuropathies, lower cranial neuropathy, multiple cranial neuropathies, and neuralgic amyotrophy, which may or may not be directly associated with the virus.
Conclusions: Neuropathies in patients with COVID-19 significantly impact functional prognosis following infection. Early recognition of neurological manifestations facilitates the implementation of rehabilitation therapies that improve the patient's quality of life. |
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| ISSN: | 0121-0793 2011-7965 |