Coronavirus disease 2019: neurological aspects. Review and own research

Abstract

The main neurological consequences of COVID-19 (depression, psycho-emotional disturbances, strokes, neurodegenerative disorders and others); major ways of coronavirus penetration into the nervous system as well as mechanisms of development of some neurological complications of COVID-19 are presented in the article. The preliminary results of the analysis of changes in the functional state of the central nervous system of 36 patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy of atherosclerotic and hypertensive genesis of the 1-2 stages before and 3-4 months after COVID-19 have been presented. It was found that in patients who have had COVID-19, there were headaches, sleep disorders, general weakness, memory impairment, muscle and limbs pains. Reorganization of bioelectrical activity of the brain also appeared. The general structure of the EEG was characterized by an increased power in the range of slow rhythms against a background of decreasing power in the range of cortical rhythms. A tendency to a decrease of cerebral blood flow in the separate vessels of carotid and vertebrobasilar basins, as well as expressed suppression of the vascular endothelial function were also found. It is evident from the results of this study that inclusion of the drugs possessing a multimodal vasoactive and metabolic action is necessary. Key words: coronavirus disease 2019, neurological complications, bioelectrical activity of the brain, cerebral blood flow, endothelial function.