Damage of nervous system in COVID-19: Neuropsychological syndromes, histological data


DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/therapy.2023.5.32-37

Mashin V.V., Belova L.A., Dudikov E.M., Slesareva E.V., Dolgova D.R., Nikishin K.E., Lyalchenko Yu.A.

Ulyanovsk State University
Abstract. Recently, the increasing evidence that COVID-19 can cause severe cognitive and emotional disorders is appearing.
The aim: to estimate the character of neuropsychological and emotional disorders in patients during the period of clinical manifestations of a novel coronavirus infection COVID-19, to perform morphological assessment of the brain condition of deceased patients.
Material and methods. The results of a survey of 112 patients in the period of COVID-19 clinical manifestations are introduced. The mean age of all patients was 61,7±11,5 years. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed by instrumental (CT/chest X-ray examination) and laboratory methods (PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus RNA presence). Screening testing of cognitive functions (MOCA test) was performed for neuropsychological status assessment. A morphological estimation of the macroscopic parameters and micropreparations of the brain in patients who died from COVID-19 was made. Cerebral cross sections of 20 μm and 5–6 μm thick were stained with hematoxylin-eosin.
Results and conclusion. In the structure of cognitive impairments in COVID-19 patients, optical-spatial disorders occupy the most common place. Morphological studies confirmed the presence of a full-blown plethora and thrombosis of small vessels, mainly in the parieto-occipital regions and vessels of the basal brain surface. The histological picture corresponds to an acute viral lesion of the brain substance with an active reaction of glia, microvessels and significant dystrophic processes both in the bodies of neurons and nerve filaments.

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About the Autors


Victor V. Mashin, MD, professor, head of the Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical rehabilitation of the Faculty of medicine, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432008, Ulyanovsk, 12 Likhacheva Str. E-mail: victor_mashin@mail.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0085-3727
Lyudmila A. Belova, MD, professor of the Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical rehabilitation, dean of the Faculty of medicine, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432008, Ulyanovsk, 12 Likhacheva Str. E-mail: labelova@mail.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9585-5603
Evgeniy M. Dudikov, assistant at the Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical rehabilitation of the Faculty of medicine, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432008, Ulyanovsk, 12 Likhacheva Str. E-mail: dudikoveygene80@yandex.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-5687
Elena V. Slesareva, MD, professor of the Department of general and clinical morphology of the Faculty of medicine named after T.Z. Biktimirov, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432063, Ulyanovsk, 2/1 Arkhitektora Livchaka Str. E-mail: gistology2@mail.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3326-7863
Dinara R. Dolgova, PhD in Biological Sciences, associate professor of the Department of physiology and pathophysiology of the Faculty of medicine named after T.Z. Biktimirov, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 4321017, Ulyanovsk, 42 L. Tolstogo Str. E-mail: dolgova.dinara@yandex.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5475-7031
Kirill E. Nikishin, resident of the Department of anesthesiology and intensive care, resident of the Department of surgery of the Faculty of postgraduate education, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432017, Ulyanovsk, 5 III Internatsionala Str. E-mail: kirill.nikishin93@mail.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0125-323X
Yuri A. Lyalchenko, 5th year student of the Faculty of medicine, Ulyanovsk State University. Address: 432063, Ulyanovsk, 2/1 Arkhitektora Livchaka Str. E-mail: lyalchenko96@yandex.ru. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8151-8068


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