Sharareh Roshanzamir1, Leila Sadat Mohamadi Jahromi2. 1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran. 2. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran. mohamadil.2668@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Many articles hypothesized the potential role of autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis and outcome of COVID-19 infection. Several studies reported both central and peripheral nervous system involvement in COVID-19 as well. Up to our knowledge, there is no study evaluating whether this virus could invade the autonomic nervous system affecting its function adversely. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) has long been used as a method of evaluating the autonomic nervous system. Regarding the importance of the autonomic nervous system in hemostasis and wide consequences of COVID-19 infection, we designed this study to evaluate the autonomic nervous system function in patients recovered from COVID-19 compared with normal population who are not yet infected by this virus by the means of SSR. METHODS: This case-control study included 70 patients surviving COVID-19 who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria that went under SSR. The data gathered were compared with those without the history of any symptoms attributable to COVID-19 during the pandemic. RESULTS: There was a correlation between COVID-19 infection and abnormal SSR (p value < 0.0001) with the most effect on the latency prolongation of the action potential recorded from the median nerve at palms (effect size: right: 3.90, left: 3.69). Moreover, the greater severity of the disease correlated with more abnormality of parameters recorded by SSR technique. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal SSR parameters could be a good indicator of autonomic nervous system involvement in patients with COVID-19 infection. It might be a predictor of disease severity, clinical outcomes and prognosis as well.
OBJECTIVES: Many articles hypothesized the potential role of autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis and outcome of COVID-19 infection. Several studies reported both central and peripheral nervous system involvement in COVID-19 as well. Up to our knowledge, there is no study evaluating whether this virus could invade the autonomic nervous system affecting its function adversely. Sympathetic skin response (SSR) has long been used as a method of evaluating the autonomic nervous system. Regarding the importance of the autonomic nervous system in hemostasis and wide consequences of COVID-19 infection, we designed this study to evaluate the autonomic nervous system function in patients recovered from COVID-19 compared with normal population who are not yet infected by this virus by the means of SSR. METHODS: This case-control study included 70 patients surviving COVID-19 who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria that went under SSR. The data gathered were compared with those without the history of any symptoms attributable to COVID-19 during the pandemic. RESULTS: There was a correlation between COVID-19 infection and abnormal SSR (p value < 0.0001) with the most effect on the latency prolongation of the action potential recorded from the median nerve at palms (effect size: right: 3.90, left: 3.69). Moreover, the greater severity of the disease correlated with more abnormality of parameters recorded by SSR technique. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal SSR parameters could be a good indicator of autonomic nervous system involvement in patients with COVID-19 infection. It might be a predictor of disease severity, clinical outcomes and prognosis as well.
Authors: Li Wang; Adil Muneer; Ling Xie; Feng Zhang; Bing Wu; Liu Mei; Erik M Lenarcic; Emerald Hillary Feng; Juan Song; Yan Xiong; Xufen Yu; Charles Wang; Ciprian Gheorghe; Karina Torralba; Jeanette Gowen Cook; Yisong Y Wan; Nathaniel John Moorman; Hongjun Song; Jian Jin; Xian Chen Journal: bioRxiv Date: 2020-11-16
Authors: K L Hutchins; J H Jansen; A D Comer; R V Scheer; G S Zahn; A E Capps; L M Weaver; N A Koontz Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2020-06-25 Impact factor: 3.825