HP38: Neurophysiological assessment of peripheral neuropathies associated with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Neurological complications associated with COVID-19 are a significant cause of morbidity, affecting both central and peripheral nervous systems. We aim to assess the electrophysiological features of peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We included 31 patients between March 2020 and April 2021 with a suspected diagnosis of PNI with COVID-19. We performed motor and sensory nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) in the upper and lower extremities. Results: The mean age was 66.8±3.1 years (21 males, 10 females). A 96.7% (30 patients) were admitted to ICU, with a mean stay of 32.9±5.1 days. The neurophysiological examination showed, in descending order mixed polyneuropathies 22.6% (7 patients), motor axonal polyneuropathies 19.4% (6 patients), sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathies 19.4% (6 patients), peroneal mononeuropathies 12.9% (4 patients), brachial plexopathies 12.9% (4 patients), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) 6.4% (2 patients), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) 3.2% (1 patient) and femoral mononeuropathy 3.2% (1 patient). The low amplitude in both motor and sensory conduction studies was the most common neurophysiological finding except in GBS and MFS that showed prolonged distal latency and slow conduction velocity. EMG showed spontaneous activity in all patients. Conclusion: Our study shows the main neuropathy damage related to COVID-19 was critical illness polyneuropathy;however, we must consider mononeuropathies in these patients. There is broad evidence concerning the peripheral nervous system injury as a complication in patients hospitalized by COVID-19, being the neurophysiological tests a valuable tool to assess the peripheral nerve function. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Clinical Neurophysiology is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)