The involvement of the central nervous system in patients with COVID-19

Rev Neurosci. 2020 May 26;31(4):453-456. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0026.

Abstract

Coronaviruses disease (COVID-19) has caused major outbreaks. A novel variant, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical presentations and pathological mechanisms of COVID-19 are broad. The respiratory aspect of the disease has been extensively researched. Emerging studies point out the possibility of the central nervous system (CNS) involvement by COVID-19. Here, we discuss the current evidence for CNS involvement in COVID-19 and highlight that the high pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 might be due to its neuroinvasive potential.

Keywords: ACE2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; anosmia; central nervous system (CNS); coronavirus.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Betacoronavirus / metabolism
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Brain Stem
  • COVID-19
  • Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology*
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / metabolism
  • Ethmoid Bone
  • Humans
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
  • Olfactory Mucosa
  • Pandemics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
  • Thalamus
  • Viral Tropism
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • DPP4 protein, human
  • Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2