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. 2022 Feb;269(2):541-576.
doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10752-x. Epub 2021 Aug 12.

Association of CNS demyelination and COVID-19 infection: an updated systematic review

Ismail Ibrahim Ismail #  1 , Sara Salama #  2
Affiliations

Association of CNS demyelination and COVID-19 infection: an updated systematic review

Ismail Ibrahim Ismail et al. J Neurol. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Since the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic, several case reports of demyelination of both peripheral and central nervous systems have been published. The association between CNS demyelination and viral infection has long been documented, and this link was recently reported following SARS-CoV-2 infection as well.

Objectives: In this systematic review, we aim to investigate the existing literature on CNS demyelination associated with SARS-CoV-2, and the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of articles in PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Ovid databases, from 1 January 2020 until June 15, 2021. The following keywords were used: "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2", "demyelination", "demyelinating disease", "multiple sclerosis", "neuromyelitis optica", and "transverse myelitis".

Results: A total of 60 articles were included in the final analysis of this systematic review and included 102 patients: 52 (51%) men and 50 (49%) women, with a median age of 46.5 years. The demyelination mimicked a variety of conditions with a picture of encephalitis/encephalomyelitis being the most common. At the same time other patterns were less frequently reported such as MS, NMOSD and even MOGAD. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) was the most frequently reported pattern of spinal cord involvement.

Conclusion: A growing body of literature has shown an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of different types of CNS demyelination. Although causality cannot readily be inferred, this review may suggest a probable causal relationship, through a para-infectious or post-infectious immune-mediated etiology in COVID-19 patients. This relationship needs to be clarified in future research.

Keywords: COVID-19; Demyelinating disease; Multiple sclerosis; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) study selection flow diagram
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