No abstract

Autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases of the central nervous system are relatively rare, but potentially severe and disabling complications of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Despite the lack of exact prevalence of this group among other complications of COVID-19, its study lately receives increasing attention. Big variety of mechanisms could be involved into pathogenesis of autoimmune and immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system, including the aberrant immune response to direct viral invasion, neuroinflammation and activation of T- and B-lymphocytes, formation of autoantibodies as a result of cross-reactivity or due to molecular mimicry, etc. This review discusses recent data on the pathogenetic mechanisms as well as clinical features of the most common complications of COVID-19: myelitis, MOG-associated diseases, spectrum of neuromyelitis optica disorders. Multiple potential biomarkers detected in post-COVID-19 patients and their diagnostic and clinical value are discussed. Given the increased number of patients having COVID-19, the study of such diseases, their connection with infection, and possible mechanisms seems to be an extremely relevant area of modern neuroimmunology.

No abstract

Spinal cord affection, according to various sources, is a common complication of a new coronavirus infection. The article describes various variants of spinal cord pathology in COVID-19, their potential mechanisms of development, approaches to treatment and outcomes of the disease. Three patients who were observed at the Research Center of Neurology and represent the most interesting cases of classic transverse myelitis, myelitis with predominant involvement of the lateral and posterior cords, and longitudinal widespread myelitis associated with antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) are considered in detail. These clinical observations demonstrate the importance of early diagnosis and selection of adequate therapy for a favorable outcome of the disease.