Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Small fiber neuropathy associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abrams, Rory M C; Simpson, David M; Navis, Allison; Jette, Nathalie; Zhou, Lan; Shin, Susan C.
  • Abrams RMC; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
  • Simpson DM; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
  • Navis A; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
  • Jette N; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
  • Zhou L; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Shin SC; Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Muscle Nerve ; 65(4): 440-443, 2022 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1508813
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/

AIMS:

The development and persistence of neurological symptoms following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is referred to as "long-haul" syndrome. We aimed to determine whether small fiber neuropathy (SFN) was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

METHODS:

We retrospectively studied the clinical features and outcomes of patients who were referred to us between May 2020 and May 2021 for painful paresthesia and numbness that developed during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection and who had nerve conduction studies showing no evidence of a large fiber polyneuropathy.

RESULTS:

We identified 13 patients, Eight women and five men with age ranging from 38-67 y. Follow-up duration ranged from 8 to 12 mo. All patients developed new-onset paresthesias within 2 mo following SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an acute onset in seven and co-existing autonomic symptoms in seven. Three patients had pre-existing but controlled neuropathy risk factors. Skin biopsy confirmed SFN in six, all of whom showed both neuropathy symptoms and signs, and two also showed autonomic dysfunction by autonomic function testing (AFT). Of the remaining seven patients who had normal skin biopsies, six showed no clinical neuropathy signs and one exhibited signs and had abnormal AFT. Two patients with markedly reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber densities and one with normal skin biopsy had severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); the remainder experienced mild COVID-19 symptoms. Nine patients received symptomatic neuropathy treatment with paresthesias controlled in seven (77.8%).

DISCUSSION:

Our findings suggest that symptoms of SFN may develop during or shortly after COVID-19. SFN may underlie the paresthesias associated with long-haul post-COVID-19 symptoms.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Small Fiber Neuropathy / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Muscle Nerve Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Mus.27458

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Small Fiber Neuropathy / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Muscle Nerve Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Mus.27458