Exploración neurofisiológica en pacientes con sospecha de polineuropatía asociada a una infección por SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Introduction

Neurological symptoms are common in patients suffering a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Guillain-Barré syndrome cases were described previously. In patients with long COVID-19, sensory symptoms are also frequent.

Patients and method

We presented 23 patients studied with a motor and sensory nerve conduction studies anf F-wave. If a small fiber pathology was suspected, a sympathetic-cutaneous response was performed.

Results

In 8 patients alterations were observed in the neurophysiological study (NPS): 2 patients had a delay in the minimum latency of the F-wave, 3 patients a decrease in its persistence, 2 patients an absence of RSS and 1 patient a decrease in the amplitude of the sensory action potentials.

Patients with alterations in the NPS had a delay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the appearance of neurological symptoms (median 17 days). Four of these patients had a self-limiting course and three others developed a long COVID-19 syndrome.

In contrast, in patients with normal NPS, sensory symptoms began at the same time as COVID-19 symptoms. All of these patients developed a long COVID-19 syndrome.

Conclusion

Among the patients studied we find two profiles, in those with a pathological NPS there is a time delay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurological symptoms, often developing self-limiting symptoms. On the other hand, patients with a normal NPS start the neurological symptoms at the same time as the respiratory infection one and all of them develop a long COVID-19 syndrome.