COVID-19 and the Brain: The Neuropathological Italian Experience on 33 Adult Autopsies

Viscardo P. Fabbri; Mattia Riefolo; Tiziana Lazzarotto; Liliana Gabrielli; Giovanna Cenacchi; Carmine Gallo; Raffaele Aspide; Guido Frascaroli; Rocco Liguori; Raffaele Lodi; Caterina Tonon; Antonietta D’Errico; Maria Pia Foschini

doi:10.3390/biom12050629

Biomolecules (Apr 2022)

COVID-19 and the Brain: The Neuropathological Italian Experience on 33 Adult Autopsies

Viscardo P. Fabbri,
Mattia Riefolo,
Tiziana Lazzarotto,
Liliana Gabrielli,
Giovanna Cenacchi,
Carmine Gallo,
Raffaele Aspide,
Guido Frascaroli,
Rocco Liguori,
Raffaele Lodi,
Caterina Tonon,
Antonietta D’Errico,
Maria Pia Foschini

Affiliations

Viscardo P. Fabbri: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Mattia Riefolo: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Tiziana Lazzarotto: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Liliana Gabrielli: Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Giovanna Cenacchi: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Carmine Gallo: Unit of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Oncology, Bellaria Hospital, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Raffaele Aspide: Anesthesia and Neurointensive Care Unit, IRCCS Institute of Neurological Science of Bologna, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Guido Frascaroli: Intensive Unit Care, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Rocco Liguori: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Raffaele Lodi: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Caterina Tonon: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
Antonietta D’Errico: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Maria Pia Foschini: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12050629
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 5
p. 629

Abstract

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Neurological symptoms are increasingly recognized in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. However, the neuropathogenesis remains unclear and it is not possible to define a specific damage pattern due to brain virus infection. In the present study, 33 cases of brain autopsies performed during the first (February–April 2020) and the second/third (November 2020–April 2021) pandemic waves are described. In all the cases, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was searched. Pathological findings are described and compared with those presently published.

Published in Biomolecules

ISSN: 2218-273X (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biomolecules

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Abstract

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