Cognitive functions in a 29-year-old male with post-COVID syndrome and long-term psoriasis – a case study

Abstract

Post-acute COVID syndrome (PACS), or long COVID, is a newly defined condition emerging as a widespread post-pandemic diagnosis with prevalent neuro-psychiatric symptoms and possible neuroinflammation-associated pathogenetic mechanisms. We present the clinical case of a 29-year-old male patient who had mild COVID-19 infections, autoimmune illness (psoriasis), and suffered a post-COVID aggravation of psoriasis, along with other non-specific neuropsychiatric problems. The patient underwent computer-based neuropsychological testing (the CogState Battery), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a clinical interview since he fulfilled the criteria for a PACS diagnosis. The acquired data showed poor results on most of the neuropsychological subtests during his follow-up visit, structural changes in the MRI, and a possible immune dysregulation with increased levels of immunoglobulin G. These results confirm that the nonspecific neuro-psychiatric post-COVID complaints are associated with objective findings.