Relevance. Polyneuropathies of various etiologies represent one of the pressing problems of modern clinical neurology. In the post-COVID period, lesions of the peripheral nervous system are being increasingly reported, the clinical manifestations of which require differential diagnosis with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Objective. To perform a comparative assessment of the clinical and neurological manifestations of polyneuropathy of coronavirus and diabetic etiology.

Materials and Methods. A total of 95 patients with polyneuropathy were examined: 57 with coronavirus-associated polyneuropathy and 38 with diabetic polyneuropathy. The control group consisted of 30 practically healthy individuals. Assessment included clinical and neurological examination, the Total Symptoms Score, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain, and the Spielberger–Hanin Anxiety Scale.

Results. Patients with coronavirus-associated polyneuropathy demonstrated a higher intensity of pain syndrome and more pronounced anxiety-affective disorders. Sensory disturbances showed comparable prevalence in both groups but differed in structure and stability. Motor impairments were more pronounced in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Conclusions. Polyneuropathies of coronavirus and diabetic etiology have similar clinical manifestations; however, they differ in pain severity, the characteristics of sensory and motor disturbances, and the influence of psycho-emotional factors. These differences should be taken into account in diagnosis and in the selection of treatment and rehabilitation strategies.

polyneuropathy, coronavirus infection, diabetic polyneuropathy, pain syndrome, anxiety.

Averochkin A.I., Mozolevsky Y.V., Shtulman D.R. Diseases of the Peripheral Nervous System. In: Nervous System Diseases: Guide for Physicians. Moscow: Medicina; 2001. Vol. 1, pp. 459–523.

Badalyan L.O., Skvortsov A.I. Clinical Electroneuromyography: Guide for Physicians. Moscow: Medicina; 1986. 368 p.

Levin O.S. Polyneuropathies. Moscow: MIA; 2005. 496 p.

Piradov M.A., Suponeva N.A., Grishina D.A. Polyneuropathies: Diagnostic and Treatment Algorithms. Moscow: Goryachaya Liniya–Telekom; 2019. 248 p.

Gusev E.I., Martynov M.Yu., Boiko A.N., et al. Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) and Nervous System Involvement. Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry named after S.S. Korsakov. 2020;120(6):7–16.

Chukhlovina M.L. Polyneuropathies during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry named after S.S. Korsakov. 2021;121(5):138–143.

Khrulev A.E., Shiyanova N.A., Sorokoumova S.N., et al. Acute and Chronic Dysimmune Polyneuropathies in COVID-19. Neuromuscular Diseases. 2021;11(2):17–27.

Dedov I.I., Shestakova M.V., Mayorov A.Yu. Algorithms of Specialized Medical Care for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Moscow; 2019. pp. 104–126.

Fokina A.S., Strokov I.A., Demura T.A. Diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Russian Medical Journal. 2017;9:572–578.

Mao L., Jin H., Wang M., et al. Neurologic Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. JAMA Neurology. 2020;77(6):1–9.

Huang C., Wang Y., Li X., et al. Clinical Features of Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2. The Lancet. 2020;395:497–506.

Baig A.M., Khaleeq A., Ali U., Syeda H. Evidence of COVID-19 Virus Targeting the Nervous System. ACS Chemical Neuroscience. 2020;11(7):995–998.

Tsai S.T., Lu M.K., San S., Tsai C.H. Neurologic Manifestations of COVID-19. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020;11:498.

Breiner A., Barnett C., Bril V. INCAT Disability Score: Measurement Properties. Muscle & Nerve. 2014;50(2):164–169.

Van den Bergh P.Y.K., Hadden R.D., Bouche P., et al. EFNS/PNS Guideline on CIDP. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System. 2010;15(1):1–9.