Although direct evidence is currently lacking, the high identity between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 suggests, that the latter viral strain could also infect the Central Nervous System (CNS). Indeed, some cases of SARS-COV2 encephalitis begin to be described and CNS damages are increasingly highlighted in the literature, but still not objectified by imaging and do not allow to explain the entire clinical patterns. We hypothesise that these CNS damages are not always objectified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) but could be indirectly observed by a physiological dysfunction of neural conduction in the brainstem. We will explore brainstem disruption through an electrophysiological approach.
Clinical and preclinical data from studies with other coronaviruses suggest an evident
neurotropism, which may result in more complex clinical scenarios. Can the SARS-CoV-2 enter
the Central Nervous System (CNS) and infect neural cells ? And if yes, how the CNS damage
contributes to pathophysiology of the COVID-19, to its signs, symptoms and progression as
well as to its sequelae. It has been demonstrated that coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and
MERS-CoV do not limit their presence to the respiratory tract and frequently invade the CNS.
The intranasal administration of SARS-CoV-1 or MERS-COV resulted in the rapid invasion of
viral particles into the brain of mice, possibly through the olfactory bulb via
trans-synaptic route. The brainstem, which hosts the respiratory neuronal circuit in the
medulla, was severely infected with both types of viruses, which may contribute to
degradation and failure of respiratory centres.
Procedure: Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP)
Record of electrophysiological responses (Auditory Evoked Potentials or AEP) during auditory stimulations with an electroencephalogram (EEG).
Procedure: Blink and Masseter Inhibitory Reflex
Electrophysiological exploration while stimulating trigeminal nerve to record 1) motor response induced (muscle contraction delay (Blink)) of the facial nerve, or 2) the contraction inhibition of masseters (Masseter Inhibitory Reflex (MIR)).
Inclusion Criteria :
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Hospitalized patient suffering from a positive COVID 19 diagnosed by Reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or chest computed tomography scan
(CTscan) with specific lesions
Exclusion Criteria :
- History of neurological damage interfering with auditory evoked potentials (PEA) and
Electromyography (EMG) reflexes of the brainstem (stroke of the brainstem, acoustic
neuroma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, facial diplegia, damage to nerves V or VII,
etc.)
- Impaired alertness
- Sedative treatments or treatments that disturb nerve conduction.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Individuals under legal protection or unable to express personally their consent
CHU de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France
Bertrand Glize, Principal Investigator
bertrand.glize@chu-bordeaux.fr