Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery (Dec 2020)

Encephalitis associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus: A case report

  • Fenne Vandervorst,
  • Kaat Guldolf,
  • Ilse Peeters,
  • Tim Vanderhasselt,
  • Kathleen Michiels,
  • Kinge Johanna Berends,
  • Johan Van Laethem,
  • Lissa Pipeleers,
  • Stefanie Vincken,
  • Laura Seynaeve,
  • Sebastiaan Engelborghs

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22
p. 100821

Abstract

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The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) usually causes fever, respiratory symptoms, malaise and myalgia. Recent observations suggested possible neurological complications of COVID-19, including the first report of suspected viral encephalitis. We report a case of a 29-year-old male with -on nasopharyngeal testing- confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection with severe respiratory symptoms, followed by clinical and radiological signs of encephalitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed an asymmetric FLAIR-hyperintensity of the left medial temporal cortex associated with mild gyral expansion. Lumbar puncture was normal and PCR’s for SARS-CoV-2 virus on CSF were negative. Clinicians treating SARS-CoV-2 infected patients should be aware of possible neurological complications, like encephalitis. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 encephalitis is difficult as CSF analysis may be normal.

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