COVID-19: infections not only affect the lungs
The novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with cough, fever and respiratory ailments. However, there is evidence that COVID-19 can also have damage to the nervous system.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the novel Coronavirus SARS designated CoV-2, often as a respiratory virus. But in the meantime, scientific studies have shown that it is the causative agent of a “multi-organ virus” that affects many organs. And according to a study by an infection with the pathogen can also lead to neurological symptoms.
So far, hard evidence is missing
In a communication from the Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen (JLU) is explained, relate to infections with SARS-Cov-2 also appears to organs other than the lung.
“There are at COVID-19 notes on infections of the heart and the kidney, but also to an involvement of the Central nervous system,” Prof. Dr. Till Acker, Director of the Institute of neuropathology, Justus Liebig University, gießen and Chairman of the Executive Board of the German society for neuropathology and neuro-anatomy e. V. (DGNN).
But, as yet, robust evidence for an influence of nerve cells by the novel Coronavirus, respectively, for the neuro-invasion of SARS-CoV-2 are missing; for infection with other human coronaviruses, it has been already demonstrated.
To investigate a possible involvement of the nervous system COVID-19, is established on the Initiative of the DGNN now a nationwide Register with human samples from the Central and peripheral nervous system (CNS, PNS) at COVID-19-autopsies.
Neurological symptoms in COVID-19
“It will be discussed whether a participation of the Central nervous system by a disorder of the cardio-respiratory centers in the brain stem for the often unfavorable course of the disease in COVID-19-patients and in -patients under mechanical ventilation, is co-responsible,” explains Prof. arable.
Many people who suffer from COVID-19, in particular, complain of dizziness, headache as well as severe impairments of smell and sense of taste. A study from Wuhan (China) had shown in one-third of patients with COVID-19 neurological complaints.
In addition, the genetic material of SARS has been proven-CoV-2 in the brain-spinal cord-liquid.
Register of the scientific community is provided
With the new Biobank is now the basis is to be created, to characterize a possible CNS involvement in detail morphologically, molecularly and clinically, and to understand the Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection better.
As is known, in which the clinical course of the disease and the frequency with which the CNS at COVID-19 is involved.
The data indicate that the Register is to be linked with the use of the medical Informatics Initiative (MI-I) of the Federal Ministry for education and research (BMBF) developed platforms with other COVID-19-patient registers for Confederate queries.
“This will be a close exchange with other professional societies,” says Prof. arable. “The Register of the scientific community is provided.” (ad)