Cerebrospinal Fluid Features in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Positive Patients

This study analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid features of 31 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with neurological complications. We observed neither severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, nor intrathecal immunoglobulin G (IgG) synthesis but did observe signs of blood-brain barrier disruption. These results might serve as a basis for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 related neuropathogenesis.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the cerebrospinal fluid features of 31 COVID-19 patients with neurological complications and found no SARS-CoV-2 RNA or intrathecal IgG synthesis, but observed signs of blood-brain barrier disruption. These results may help improve understanding of SARS-CoV-2 related neuropathogenesis.