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Review
. 2021 Apr;11(2):e135-e146.
doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000897.

Potential Neurologic Manifestations of COVID-19

Anna S Nordvig  1 , Kathryn T Fong  1 , Joshua Z Willey  1 , Kiran T Thakur  1 , Amelia K Boehme  1 , Wendy S Vargas  1 , Craig J Smith  1 , Mitchell S V Elkind  1
Affiliations
Review

Potential Neurologic Manifestations of COVID-19

Anna S Nordvig et al. Neurol Clin Pract. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Neurologic complications are increasingly recognized in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This coronavirus is related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and other human coronavirus-related illnesses that are associated with neurologic symptoms. These symptoms raise the question of a neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2.

Recent findings: Potential neurologic symptoms and syndromes of SARS-CoV-2 include headache, fatigue, dizziness, anosmia, ageusia, anorexia, myalgias, meningoencephalitis, hemorrhage, altered consciousness, Guillain-Barré syndrome, syncope, seizure, and stroke. In addition, we discuss neurologic effects of other coronaviruses, special considerations for management of neurologic patients, and possible long-term neurologic and public health sequelae.

Summary: As SARS-CoV-2 is projected to infect a large part of the world's population, understanding the potential neurologic implications of COVID-19 will help neurologists and others recognize and intervene in neurologic morbidity during and after the pandemic of 2020.

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