Neurological complications in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review

Renato Puppi Munhoz; José Luiz  Pedroso; Fábio Augusto  Nascimento; Sergio Monteiro de  Almeida; Orlando Graziani Povoas  Barsottini; Francisco Eduardo   Cardoso; Hélio A Ghizoni  Teive

doi:10.1590/0004-282X20200051

##article.authors##

Renato Puppi Munhoz University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Movement Disorders Centre, Toronto ON https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4783-4067
José Luiz Pedroso Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
Fábio Augusto Nascimento Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Houston TX, USA.
Sergio Monteiro de Almeida Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Neuroinfection Outclinic, Virology Laboratory, Medical Pathology Department, Curitiba PR, Brazil
Orlando Graziani Povoas Barsottini Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, São Paulo SP, Brazil
Francisco Eduardo Cardoso Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Hospital das Clínicas, Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Hélio A Ghizoni Teive Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Internal Medicine Department, Neurology Service, Curitiba PR, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20200051

Keywords:

Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Neurology, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Encephalitis, Stroke

Abstract

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds worldwide, different forms of reports have described its neurologic manifestations. Objective: To review the literature on neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Literature search performed following systematic reviews guidelines, using specific keywords based on the COVID-19 neurological complications described up to May 10^th, 2020. Results: A total of 43 articles were selected, including data ranging from common, non-specific symptoms, such as hyposmia and myalgia, to more complex and life-threatening conditions, such as cerebrovascular diseases, encephalopathies, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Conclusion: Recognition of neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 should be emphasized despite the obvious challenges faced by clinicians caring for critical patients who are often sedated and presenting other concurrent systemic complications.