COVID-19: a new emerging respiratory disease from the neurological perspective

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a challenging public health catastrophe worldwide. The newly emerged disease spread in almost all countries and infected 100 million persons worldwide. The infection is not limited to the respiratory system but involves various body systems and may lead to multiple organ failure. Tissue degenerative changes result from direct viral invasion, indirect consequences, or through an uncontrolled immune response. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads to the brain via hematogenous and neural routes accompanied with dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier. The involvement of the central nervous system is now suspected to be among the main causes of death. The present review discusses the historical background of coronaviruses, their role in previous and ongoing pandemics, the way they escape the immune system, why they are able to spread despite all undertaken measures, in addition to the neurological manifestations, long-term consequences of the disease, and various routes of viral introduction to the CNS.

Update 2021: COVID-19 aus Sicht der Neurologie

“…Ein Angriffspunkt des Virus ist der ACE2-Rezeptor, der zum einen als Eintrittspforte dienen, jedoch auch durch eine endotheliale Entzündungsreaktion die Blut-Hirn-Schranke direkt beeinflussen kann [6]. Eintrittspforten in das zentrale Nervensystem können transsynaptisch über den N. olfactorius, hämatogen mittels rezeptorvermittelter Transzytose, indirekt hämatogen über infizierte Leukozyten und retrograd neurogen über periphere oder gastrointestinale Nervenendigungen bestehen [7].…”

Rapid determination of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in PCR-positive samples by SDS-PMA assisted RT-qPCR

“…As of June 30, 2021, over 180 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported, and more than 3.9 million lives claimed worldwide ( https://covid19.who.int/ ). Due to its fast spread and high mortality rate, scientists have worked on all fronts to characterize the virus ( El-Sayed and Kamel, 2021 ; Harrison et al, 2020 ; Yao et al, 2020 ) and reported clinical symptoms associated with the viral disease ( El-Sayed et al, 2021a , El-Sayed et al, 2021b ).…”

Environmental factors and the epidemics of COVID-19

“…Human activities have dramatically impacted earth’s environment. Modern human society has increased health and longevity, but has created the conditions for emergence of new pathogens and their rapid spread across the globe (El-Sayed et al 2021 ). Several recent publications have proved the close connection between the environment and the COVID-19 pandemic from different perspectives, including the impact of human activities.…”