Not myopathic, but autonomic changes in patients with long-COVID syndrome: a case series.
Neurol Sci
; 44(4): 1147-1153, 2023 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2228212
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Neurological sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection still represent a serious concern both for neurologists and neuroscientists. In our paper, we investigated pain, myalgia, and fatigue as symptoms in long-COVID patients with an electrophysiological approach, comprising the evaluation of sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) and quantitative electromyography (qEMG). MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Twelve patients were enrolled (mean age, 47.7 ± 11.6 years), referred to our attention because of myalgia, pain, or muscle cramps, which persisted about 6 months after the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. They underwent conventional electroneurography (ENG), needle electromyography (EMG), and SSRs; moreover, qEMG was performed by sampling at least 20 motor unit potentials (20-30 MUPs) during weak voluntary contraction in deltoid and tibialis anterior muscles. The mean duration, amplitude, and percentage of polyphasic potentials were assessed and compared with healthy and age-matched volunteers.RESULTS:
ENG did not disclose significant changes compared to healthy subjects; needle EMG did not reveal denervation activity. In addition, qEMG showed MUPs similar to those recorded in healthy volunteers in terms of polyphasia (deltoid p = 0.24; TA p = 0.35), MUP area (deltoid p = 0.45; TA p = 0.44), mean duration (deltoid p = 0.06; TA p = 0.45), and amplitude (deltoid p = 0.27; TA p = 0.63). SSRs were not recordable from lower limbs in seven patients (58%) and from the upper ones in three of them (25%).CONCLUSION:
Our data suggest an involvement of the autonomic system, with a focus on cholinergic efferent sympathetic activity, without any evidence of myopathic changes.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Motor Neurons
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Neurol Sci
Journal subject:
Neurology
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10072-023-06637-8
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS