SARS-CoV-2 and nervous system: From pathogenesis to clinical manifestation

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a growing body of evidence indicates that besides common COVID-19 symptoms, patients may develop various neurological manifestations affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as skeletal muscles. These manifestations can occur prior, during and even after the onset of COVID-19 general symptoms. In this Review, we discuss the possible neuroimmunological mechanisms underlying the nervous system and skeletal muscle involvement, and viral triggered neuroimmunological conditions associated with SARS-CoV-2, as well as therapeutic approaches that have been considered for these specific complications worldwide. •Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may variably develop neurological manifestations.•Neuroinflammation and autoimmunity may underlie COVID-19 neurological complications.•COVID-19 neuroimmunological complications include Guillain-Barré syndromes, myopathy, and encephalomyelitis.•Immunotherapy may variably improve outcome in COVID-19 related neuroimmunological complications.