Neurology News

This study followed patients with pre-existing neurological conditions for up to 3.5 years, comparing those who had COVID-19 with those who didn’t. COVID-19 survivors, especially those hospitalized, had a higher risk of death, major cardiovascular events, fatigue, sleep issues, dyspnea, and altered mental status. Even non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients showed increased risk for several symptoms. Black and Hispanic patients had higher cardiovascular risk post-COVID. The findings suggest COVID-19 worsens long-term outcomes in neurologically vulnerable individuals, highlighting the need for targeted follow-up care.

SARS-CoV-2 can cause neurological complications, including neuroinflammation. This review highlights the use of [18F]DPA-714, a TSPO-specific radioligand, in PET-CT imaging to detect microglial activation in post-COVID-19 patients. Elevated [18F]DPA-714 uptake has been linked to symptoms like fatigue, cognitive issues, and mood changes. The compound aids in monitoring neuroinflammation progression and evaluating treatment responses. Challenges include TSPO genetic variability and the need for standardized imaging protocols. Overall, [18F]DPA-714 is a promising tool for research and personalized care in post-COVID neuroinflammation.

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disease typically associated with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibodies. However, in AChR-negative cases, autoantibodies against muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) may be present. Given the rarity of MuSK autoantibodies, there is limited information on their development and significance as biomarkers of disease activity.