Spectrum of Acute Neuropathy Associated With Covid-19: A Clinical and Electrophysiological Study of 13 Patients From a Single Center

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze clinical and nerve conduction patterns in patients with acute neuropathy, preceded by or concomitantly having Covid-19 disease (Acute neuropathy associated with Covid-19 or ANAC 19). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical details, laboratory evaluation and electrophysiological parameters in patients with ANAC 19 was performed. These data were compared with non-Covid Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) described in literature and also with patients with acute neuropathy without Covid-19 who had presented to the center during the study period. Results: Records of 13 patients with ANAC 19 were reviewed. Most patients clinically had paraparesis, and electrophysiologically showed demyelinating neuropathy. Peroneal and sural nerves were the most frequently abnormal motor and sensory nerves, respectively. A proportion of patients showed a peroneal velocity-sparing pattern. Higher incidence of paraparesis and encephalopathy differentiated ANAC 19 from non-Covid GBS. Conclusions: ANAC 19 had a comparable electrophysiological profile to non-Covid GBS; however, it had a distinct clinical presentation.

Keywords

• Covid-19 disease
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Para-infectious neuropathy
• Guillain-Barre syndrome