Cerebral microvascular complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: How did it occur and how should it be treated?

ABSTRACT

Cerebral microvascular disease has been reported as a central feature of the neurological disorders in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection that may be associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. The main pathomechanism in the development of cerebrovascular injury due to SARS-CoV-2 infection can be a consequence of endothelial cell dysfunction as a structural part of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which may be accompanied by increased inflammatory response and thrombocytopenia along with blood coagulation disorders. In this review, we described the properties of the BBB, the neurotropism behavior of SARS-CoV-2, and the possible mechanisms of damage to the CNS microvascular upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.