4 ms·

If it did turn out this virus is neuroinvasive and that is what causes acute respiratory problems, how would this be prevented/mitigated/treated, theoretically?

pbourke 7y ago
Perhaps more aggressive early antiviral therapies?
DailyHN 7y ago
> Considering the potential neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral therapy should be carried out as early as possible to block its entry into the CNS. Airway inhalation of antiviral agents will be the first choice at the early stage of infection, which will inhibit the replication SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tracts and lung and prevent from its subsequent neuroinvasion. It is also urgent to find effective antiviral drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, corticosteroids, which are used frequently for severe patients, may have no treatment effect, but rather accelerate the replication of the virus within the neurons.
- cryoshon 7y ago
  >corticosteroids may have no treatment effect isn't the point of the corticosteriods to rapidly reduce widespread pulmonary inflammation that would otherwise kill the patient?
  - Enginerrrd 7y ago
    Yes, but it suggests that it could be important to distinguish whether the cause of their decline and hypoxia is CNS respiratory depression or issues with lung function before making that call.
csears 7y ago
The full text mentions masks being particularly effective and inhaled antiviral meds that could slow the spread of the virus in airways. It also talks about the need for antiviral agents capable of crossing the brain-blood barrier. See the last 3 paragraphs of the full text.
testplzignore 7y ago
This may sound very stupid, but... As a sort of "vaccine", would it make sense to have people intentionally infected orally so they build up antibodies before it has a chance to spread to their brain?
- newsbinator 7y ago
  I was thinking the same thing. I'd love an expert to tell us to what degree that's silly.
- W4ldi 7y ago
  that's kind of what all vaccines do. so I guess you're right. (but I'm not an expert)

pbourke 7y ago

Perhaps more aggressive early antiviral therapies?

DailyHN 7y ago

> Considering the potential neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral therapy should be carried out as early as possible to block its entry into the CNS. Airway inhalation of antiviral agents will be the first choice at the early stage of infection, which will inhibit the replication SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tracts and lung and prevent from its subsequent neuroinvasion. It is also urgent to find effective antiviral drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, corticosteroids, which are used frequently for severe patients, may have no treatment effect, but rather accelerate the replication of the virus within the neurons.

cryoshon 7y ago
>corticosteroids may have no treatment effect isn't the point of the corticosteriods to rapidly reduce widespread pulmonary inflammation that would otherwise kill the patient?
- Enginerrrd 7y ago
  Yes, but it suggests that it could be important to distinguish whether the cause of their decline and hypoxia is CNS respiratory depression or issues with lung function before making that call.

csears 7y ago

The full text mentions masks being particularly effective and inhaled antiviral meds that could slow the spread of the virus in airways. It also talks about the need for antiviral agents capable of crossing the brain-blood barrier. See the last 3 paragraphs of the full text.

testplzignore 7y ago

This may sound very stupid, but... As a sort of "vaccine", would it make sense to have people intentionally infected orally so they build up antibodies before it has a chance to spread to their brain?

newsbinator 7y ago
I was thinking the same thing. I'd love an expert to tell us to what degree that's silly.
W4ldi 7y ago
that's kind of what all vaccines do. so I guess you're right. (but I'm not an expert)