Will 2019-nCoV attack the central nervous system?

Maybe.

According to the study results disclosed at present, 2019-nCoV mainly attacks the lungs. The kidneys, testicles, myocardium, etc. may also be affected. So, will 2019-nCoV attack the nervous system?

Recently, the first COVID-19 patient combined with encephalitis was discharged from Ditan Hospital successfully. Director Liu Jingyuan of the ICU reminded: "If the patient has disturbance of consciousness, it must be considered that the virus may attack the central nervous system.”

This is the first case of CNS involvement caused by 2019-nCoV found worldwide. The working group of experts collected CSF samples of patients, performed the second-generation sequencing of metagenome, and identified possible infectious pathogens. After excluding other pathogens, the genome sequence of 2019-nCoV was obtained. The presence of 2019-nCoV in cerebrospinal fluid was confirmed by gene sequencing, and viral encephalitis was clinically diagnosed.

This reminds us of the need to be alert that 2019-nCoV infection can affect the central nervous system, timely conduct relevant examinations such as cerebrospinal fluid tests, and improve the work of 2019-nCoV nucleic acid tests and gene sequencing in cerebrospinal fluid, so as to explore a more comprehensive understanding of COVID-19, and actively deal with relevant neurological complications, further reduce the mortality of critical patients.

However, the results of the first autopsy in China showed that the lesions of COVID-19 still focused on the lungs and the evidence of other organ damage was insufficient. More evidence is needed to confirm this in the future.

Latest release! Autopsy report of the first deceased COVID-19 patient

Last Updated On 2021-09-17