Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 9/2021

01-09-2021 | Long-COVID Syndrome | Neurology of Systemic Diseases (J. Biller, Section Editor)

The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Authors: Narges Moghimi, Mario Di Napoli, José Biller, James E. Siegler, Rahul Shekhar, Louise D. McCullough, Michelle S. Harkins, Emily Hong, Danielle A. Alaouieh, Gelsomina Mansueto, Afshin A. Divani

Published in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports | Issue 9/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health challenge. This review aims to summarize the incidence, risk factors, possible pathophysiology, and proposed management of neurological manifestations of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or neuro-PASC based on the published literature.

Recent Findings

The National Institutes of Health has noted that PASC is a multi-organ disorder ranging from mild symptoms to an incapacitating state that can last for weeks or longer following recovery from initial infection with SARS-CoV-2. Various pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed as the culprit for the development of PASC. These include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect invasion of the virus into the brain, immune dysregulation, hormonal disturbances, elevated cytokine levels due to immune reaction leading to chronic inflammation, direct tissue damage to other organs, and persistent low-grade infection. A multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of neuro-PASC will be required to diagnose and address these symptoms. Tailored rehabilitation and novel cognitive therapy protocols are as important as pharmacological treatments to treat neuro-PASC effectively.

Summary

With recognizing the growing numbers of COVID-19 patients suffering from neuro-PASC, there is an urgent need to identify affected individuals early to provide the most appropriate and efficient treatments. Awareness among the general population and health care professionals about PASC is rising, and more efforts are needed to understand and treat this new emerging challenge. In this review, we summarize the relevant scientific literature about neuro-PASC.
Literature
5.•
go back to reference Halpin SJ, McIvor C, Whyatt G, Adams A, Harvey O, McLean L, et al. Postdischarge symptoms and rehabilitation needs in survivors of COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional evaluation. J Med Virol. 2021;93(2):1013–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26368A prospective study from the UK reporting on post-COVID discharge symptoms. The study recommended rehabilitation protocols to manage post-COVID symptoms and improve functional recovery.CrossRefPubMed Halpin SJ, McIvor C, Whyatt G, Adams A, Harvey O, McLean L, et al. Postdischarge symptoms and rehabilitation needs in survivors of COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional evaluation. J Med Virol. 2021;93(2):1013–22. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​jmv.​26368A prospective study from the UK reporting on post-COVID discharge symptoms. The study recommended rehabilitation protocols to manage post-COVID symptoms and improve functional recovery.CrossRefPubMed
10.•
go back to reference YMJ G, Van Herck M, Delbressine JM, Vaes AW, Meys R, FVC M, et al. Persistent symptoms 3 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection: the post-COVID-19 syndrome? ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(4). https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00542-2020In previously hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, multiple symptoms were present about 3 months after symptoms onset. YMJ G, Van Herck M, Delbressine JM, Vaes AW, Meys R, FVC M, et al. Persistent symptoms 3 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection: the post-COVID-19 syndrome? ERJ Open Res. 2020;6(4). https://​doi.​org/​10.​1183/​23120541.​00542-2020In previously hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, multiple symptoms were present about 3 months after symptoms onset.
17.
go back to reference Davis HE, Assaf GS, McCorkell L, Wei H, Low RJ, Re’em Y et al. Characterizing long covid in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. medRxiv. 2020:2020.12.24.20248802. doi:10.1101/2020.12.24.20248802. Davis HE, Assaf GS, McCorkell L, Wei H, Low RJ, Re’em Y et al. Characterizing long covid in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. medRxiv. 2020:2020.12.24.20248802. doi:10.1101/2020.12.24.20248802.
18.••
go back to reference Huang C, Huang L, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Gu X, et al. 6-month consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study. Lancet. 2021;397(10270):220–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32656-8At 6 months after acute infection, COVID-19 survivors mainly suffered from fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. Patients who were more severely ill during their hospital stay had more severe impaired pulmonary diffusion capacities and abnormal chest imaging manifestations and were the main target population for the long-term recovery intervention. Huang C, Huang L, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Gu X, et al. 6-month consequences of COVID-19 in patients discharged from hospital: a cohort study. Lancet. 2021;397(10270):220–32. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​S0140-6736(20)32656-8At 6 months after acute infection, COVID-19 survivors mainly suffered from fatigue or muscle weakness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety or depression. Patients who were more severely ill during their hospital stay had more severe impaired pulmonary diffusion capacities and abnormal chest imaging manifestations and were the main target population for the long-term recovery intervention.
52.
go back to reference Smith ME, Haney E, McDonagh M, Pappas M, Daeges M, Wasson N, et al. Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(12):841–50. https://doi.org/10.7326/M15-0114.CrossRefPubMed Smith ME, Haney E, McDonagh M, Pappas M, Daeges M, Wasson N, et al. Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(12):841–50. https://​doi.​org/​10.​7326/​M15-0114.CrossRefPubMed
74.
92.••
go back to reference Rogers JP, Chesney E, Oliver D, Pollak TA, McGuire P, Fusar-Poli P, et al. Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(7):611–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30203-0If SARS-CoV-2 infection follows a similar course to that with SARS or MERS, most patients should recover without experiencing mental illness. SARS-CoV-2 may cause delirium in a significant proportion of patients in the acute stage. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of depression, anxiety, fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, and rarer neuropsychiatric syndromes in the chronic stage.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed Rogers JP, Chesney E, Oliver D, Pollak TA, McGuire P, Fusar-Poli P, et al. Psychiatric and neuropsychiatric presentations associated with severe coronavirus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis with comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(7):611–27. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​S2215-0366(20)30203-0If SARS-CoV-2 infection follows a similar course to that with SARS or MERS, most patients should recover without experiencing mental illness. SARS-CoV-2 may cause delirium in a significant proportion of patients in the acute stage. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of depression, anxiety, fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, and rarer neuropsychiatric syndromes in the chronic stage.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed
107.
go back to reference Beghi E, Helbok R, Crean M, Chou SH, McNett M, Moro E, et al. The European Academy of Neurology COVID-19 registry (ENERGY): an international instrument for surveillance of neurological complications in patients with COVID-19. Eur J Neurol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.14652. Beghi E, Helbok R, Crean M, Chou SH, McNett M, Moro E, et al. The European Academy of Neurology COVID-19 registry (ENERGY): an international instrument for surveillance of neurological complications in patients with COVID-19. Eur J Neurol. 2020. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​ene.​14652.
119.
go back to reference Petrie JG, Cheng C, Malosh RE, VanWormer JJ, Flannery B, Zimmerman RK, et al. Illness severity and work productivity loss among working adults with medically attended acute respiratory illnesses: US influenza vaccine effectiveness network 2012-2013. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;62(4):448–55. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/civ952.CrossRefPubMed Petrie JG, Cheng C, Malosh RE, VanWormer JJ, Flannery B, Zimmerman RK, et al. Illness severity and work productivity loss among working adults with medically attended acute respiratory illnesses: US influenza vaccine effectiveness network 2012-2013. Clin Infect Dis. 2016;62(4):448–55. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​cid/​civ952.CrossRefPubMed
135.
go back to reference Kaiser JD. A prospective, proof-of-concept investigation of KPAX002 in chronic fatigue syndrome. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(7):11064–74.PubMedCentralPubMed Kaiser JD. A prospective, proof-of-concept investigation of KPAX002 in chronic fatigue syndrome. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(7):11064–74.PubMedCentralPubMed
144.
go back to reference Hermans L, Nijs J, Calders P, De Clerck L, Moorkens G, Hans G, et al. Influence of morphine and naloxone on pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, and controls: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Pain Pract. 2018;18(4):418–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.12613.CrossRefPubMed Hermans L, Nijs J, Calders P, De Clerck L, Moorkens G, Hans G, et al. Influence of morphine and naloxone on pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, and controls: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Pain Pract. 2018;18(4):418–30. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​papr.​12613.CrossRefPubMed
147.
Metadata
Title
The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors
Narges Moghimi
Mario Di Napoli
José Biller
James E. Siegler
Rahul Shekhar
Louise D. McCullough
Michelle S. Harkins
Emily Hong
Danielle A. Alaouieh
Gelsomina Mansueto
Afshin A. Divani
Publication date
01-09-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports / Issue 9/2021
Print ISSN: 1528-4042
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6293
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-021-01130-1

Other articles of this Issue 9/2021

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 9/2021 Go to the issue

Movement Disorders (T. Simuni, Section Editor)

Tremor in Primary Monogenic Dystonia