Neurology Cranial Neuropathies and COVID-19: Neurotropism and Autoimmunity

[tetano]

Neurology


. 2020 Jun 2;10.1212/WNL.0000000000009921.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009921. Online ahead of print.
Cranial Neuropathies and COVID-19: Neurotropism and Autoimmunity


Fiona Costello ^{1 2} , Marinos C Dalakas ^{3 4}



Affiliations

• PMID: 32487714
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009921

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or "COVID-19" global pandemic began in late 2019. Like its predecessors, SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), COVID-19 binds to angiotension converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors to facilitate tissue invasion, and potentially gain entry into the nervous system.¹ This single-stranded RNA virus shares 75-80% identical genome sequence with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, but has increased virulence, persistence, and lethality.² Amid catastrophic human suffering, severe neurological complications of COVID-19 have been identified; yet, subtle neurological manifestations have likely been under-reported.