[Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19: Meningoencephalitis and Encephalopathy].

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causes neurological symptoms in a high percentage of patients and is associated with various types of encephalitides and encephalopathies, which are etiologically classified into (a)direct infection of the central nervous system with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and resultant meningoencephalitis (this is a rare presentation), (b)COVID-19-induced cytokine storms, which trigger endothelial cell injury, blood-brain barrier disruption, and microangiopathy and consequent encephalopathy and, (c)autoimmune encephalitis secondary to para- or post-infectious mechanisms that play a key role during the acute or post-COVID-19 phase. Notably, some patients present with neurological symptoms as the first manifestation. Radiologically characteristic encephalitides and encephalopathies, such as acute necrotizing encephalopathy, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion are also complicated by COVID-19. Further investigations and appropriate treatments are warranted in patients with COVID-19, who develop new neurological symptoms.