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Syncope and silent hypoxemia in COVID-19: Implications for the autonomic field
- Source :
- Autonomic Neuroscience
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), the infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, has wreaked havoc across the globe since its emergence in December 2019. Reports of patients presenting with syncope and pre-syncope, as well as hypoxemia without symptoms of dyspnea ("silent hypoxemia"), have led researchers to speculate whether SARS-CoV-2 can alter autonomic nervous system function. As viral infections are commonly reported triggers of altered autonomic control, we must consider whether SARS-CoV-2 can also interfere with autonomic activity, at least in some patients. As we are still in the early stages of understanding COVID-19, we still do not know whether syncope and silent hypoxemia are more strongly associated with COVID-19 compared to any other viral infections that severely compromise gas exchange. Therefore, in this perspective we discuss these two intriguing clinical presentations, as they relate to autonomic nervous system function. In our discussion, we will explore COVID-specific, as well as non-COVID specific mechanisms that may affect autonomic activity and potential therapeutic targets. As we move forward in our understanding of COVID-19, well-designed prospective studies with appropriate control and comparator groups will be necessary to identify potential unique effects of COVID-19 on autonomic function.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Autonomic dysfunction
Affect (psychology)
Autonomic control
Syncope
Hypoxemia
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
medicine
Humans
Autonomic nervous system
Intensive care medicine
Hypoxia
Letter to the Editor
biology
Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
business.industry
SARS-CoV-2
Syncope (genus)
COVID-19
biology.organism_classification
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases
Infectious disease (medical specialty)
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
Silent hypoxemia
Neurology (clinical)
medicine.symptom
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18727484
- Volume :
- 235
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Autonomic neuroscience : basicclinical
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1c61da4a9f1af66ac5317039d635ced8