Neurological manifestations of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic 2019–2020
Kaiming Liu, Mengxiong Pan, Zheman Xiao, Xiaopei Xu
Abstract
Since December 2019, a cluster of cases with contact history of live animals in Huanan seafood wholesale market of Wuhan city developed an unexplained course of pneumonia. A novel virus was identified and named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Later on, WHO declared that the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and named the disease COVID-19. As of 6 April 2020, more than 1 270 000 human infections with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in more than 200 countries or regions with nearly 70 000 reported deaths. Studies revealed that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main host cell receptor of SARS-CoV-2.1 Since ACE2 is expressed in the neurons and glial cells, COVID-19 may also cause neurological symptoms. Considering the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 have been rarely mentioned in past literature,2 familiarising neurologists with the clinical course of the disease is critical in treating and controlling the disease. The coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 is a novel beta coronavirus in the form of RNA and has nearly 29 000 nucleotide base pairs that hold the genetic code for viral production. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted mainly through respiratory tract secretions or by direct contact. Asymptomatic persons are also potential …