Severe Neurologic Complications of SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Current treatment options in neurology Vol. 23; no. 5; p. 14
• Main Authors: Sisniega, Daniella C., Reynolds, Alexandra S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 2021
• Subjects: Critical Care Medicine; Critical Care Neurology (H Hinson; Critical Care Neurology (H Hinson, Section Editor); Diabetes; Family Medicine; General Practice; Intensive; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurology; Ophthalmology; Section Editor; Topical Collection on Critical Care Neurology; Seizure; Neurological complications of COVID-19; COVID-19 related stroke
• ISSN: 1092-8480; 1534-3138
• DOI: 10.1007/s11940-021-00669-1

Purpose of Review This review presents an overview of the known neurocritical care complications of severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We present readers with a review of the literature of severe neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2 and cases from our institution to illustrate these conditions. Recent Findings Neurologic manifestations are being increasingly recognized in the literature. Some patients can have severe neurologic manifestations, though the true prevalence is unknown. Summary Severe neurologic complications of COVID-19 include large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, encephalitis, myelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, status epilepticus, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. These conditions can manifest in COVID-19 patients even in the absence of risk factors and must be promptly identified as they can have a high mortality if left untreated.