Revisión de la bibliografía. Coronavirus (COVID-19) y Sistema Nervioso Central. Un panorama para analizar en una situación de pandemia. Consideraciones sobre el neurotrofismo del Coronavirus / Literature review. Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Nervous System Central. A panorama to analyze in a pandemic situation. Considerations on coronavirus neurotrophy

En humanos, las infecciones virales del tracto respiratorio son una causa principal de morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo. Varios agentes virales respiratorios reconocidos tienen una capacidad neuroinvasiva, ya que pueden propagarse desde el tracto respiratorio hasta el sistema nervioso central (SNC). Una vez allí, la infección de las células del SNC (neurotropismo) podría conducir a problemas de salud humana, como encefalitis y enfermedades neurológicas a largo plazo. Los coronavirus (HCoV) generalmente infectan el tracto respiratorio superior, donde se asocian principalmente con resfriados comunes. Sin embargo, en las poblaciones más vulnerables, como los recién nacidos, los bebés, los ancianos y las personas inmunocomprometidas, también pueden afectar el tracto respiratorio inferior y provocar neumonía, exacerbaciones del asma, síndrome de dificultad respiratoria o incluso síndrome respiratorio agudo severo (SRAS) . Se ha establecido claramente la afectación respiratoria del VHC desde la década de 1960. Además, durante casi tres décadas, la literatura científica también ha demostrado que los HCoV son neuroinvasivos y neurotrópicos y podrían inducir una activación excesiva del sistema inmune.

In humans, viral infections of the respiratory tract are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several recognized respiratory viral agents have a neuroinvasive capacity since they can spread from the respiratory tract to the central nervous system (CNS). Once there, infection of CNS cells (neurotropism) could lead to human health problems, such as encephalitis and long-term neurological diseases. Coronaviruses (HCoV) usually infect the upper respiratory tract, where they are mainly associated with common colds. However, in more vulnerable populations, such as newborns, infants, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals, can also affect the lower respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia, exacerbations of asthma, respiratory distress syndrome, or even severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It has been clearly established the respiratory involvement of HCoV since the 1960s. In addition, for almost three decades now, the scientific literature has also demonstrated that HCoV are neuroinvasive and neurotropic and could induce an over activation of the immune system

Infection of the central nervous system with dengue virus 3 genotype I causing neurological manifestations in Brazil

Abstract: A case of dengue virus 3 (DENV-3) genotype I infection with neurological manifestations occurred in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais in October 2012. The serotype was detected by PCR, and the genotype was assessed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C-prM region. The virus causing neurological manifestations clustered with other sequences of DENV-3 genotype I. Because neurological manifestations of DENV are possibly misdiagnosed in Brazil, this study serves as an alert of the importance of DENV diagnoses in CNS infections.

Manifestaçoes neurológicas em crianças e adolecentes infectados e expostos ao HIV-1 / Neurological findings in a group of children and adolescents exposed and infected by HIV-1

The CNS infection by HIV-1 in infancy could be present immediately after infection or became manifest later. Microcephalia, mental retardation, pyramidal signs, humor and behavioral disorders and antiretroviral therapy complications are common. This is an observational, sectional and descriptive study about findings on neurological examination of 173 patients in a group of children and adolescents infected and exposed to HIV-1 in perinatal period. Most of them had more than one neurological finding or different diagnosis. The more common findings were: encephalopathy, mental retardation, language delay, pyramidal signs, hyporeflexia. The neurological examination was abnormal in 67% of all patients even in seroreverters. We suggest that this group has a high risk to neurological disease and the development of co-morbidity is directly correlated to clinical deterioration by HIV-1 infection.

O envolvimento do sistema nervoso central SNC na infecção pelo HIV-1 em crianças pode estar evidente desde o início ou demorar muitos anos para se manifestar. Microcefalia, rebaixamento cognitivo, sinais piramidais, distúrbios do humor e do comportamento e complicações pelo uso da terapia antiretroviral são comuns. Este é um trabalho observacional, descritivo e seccional cuja finalidade é descrever as alterações do exame neurológico em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes expostos pelo HIV-1 durante o período perinatal. Foram avaliados 173 pacientes. Muitos pacientes tinham superposição de alterações de exame neurológico e/ou mais de um diagnóstico. As alterações mais comuns foram: retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, atraso de linguagem, deficiência mental, síndrome piramidal, hiporreflexia. O exame neurológico foi alterado em 67% dos casos, mesmo naqueles pacientes soro-revertidos. Sugerimos que existe alto risco para doença neurológica nesse grupo de pacientes e que a progressão da infecção pelo HIV-1 acentua o aparecimento de co-morbidades e comprometimento de seu prognóstico.

Dengue infection with central nervous system manifestations.

A prospective observational study was conducted over a seven years period to determine the clinical and laboratory findings of dengue patients with central nervous system manifestations. Thirty serologically confirmed dengue infected patients with central nervous system manifestations were seen at the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and at Songkhla Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand. The age ranged between 3 months and 14 years with a mean age of 6.2 years. Seventeen were boys and thirteen were girls. The central nervous system manifestations included alteration of consciousness 76.7%, seizures 63.3%, pyramidal tract signs 36.7%, meningeal signs 30% and headache 26.7%. Eleven patients had primary while 19 had secondary dengue infection. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed lymphocytic pleocytosis in 6 out of 28 patients while presence of anti-dengue IgM antibodies was detected in 2 out of 19 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid tested. Two patients died, autopsy was done on one patient and examination of the brain was compatible with viral encephalitis.