COVID-19 Peripheral Neuropathy

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), caused by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), has become a life-threatening epidemic, affecting multiple organs, including the nervous system. Studies have documented that COVID-19-associated peripheral neuropathy is a common and frequent problem, with central and peripheral nervous system complications.


The most commonly associated peripheral neuropathies described with COVID-19 are Guillain-Barre syndrome and its variants as well as critical illness polyneuropathy. We report in this paper the distinct MRI findings of an unusual case of peripheral neuropathy associated with COVID-19. These findings are similar to those seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome or one of its variants, although differing from the classic condition in certain key clinical and radiological features 1).

1)
Bahouth S, Chuang K, Olson L, Rosenthal D. COVID-19 related muscle denervation atrophy. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Aug;50(8):1717-1721. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03721-y. Epub 2021 Jan 31. PMID: 33517510; PMCID: PMC7847416.