Encefalitis como manifestacion neurologica del COVID-19

Introduction: In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the different clinical manifestations of this infection pose a challenge for healthcare professionals. Respiratory involvement, the main symptom of SARS-CoV-2 infection, means that other manifestations, such as neurological, take a back seat, with the consequent delay in diagnosis and treatment. Material and methods: All COVID-19 patients admitted with neurological symptoms or diagnosed with encephalitis since March 2020 in a tertiary hospital in Zaragoza, Spain. Results: Two patients with COVID-19 infection confirmed by nasopharyngeal PCR and whose clinical picture consisted of neurological alterations compatible with encephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microbiology was negative for bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 but, given the clinical suspicion of encephalitis due to the latter, antiviral treatment with immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis was started early. Despite this, the evolution was not satisfactory. Conclusions: COVID-19 encephalitis is a recently described clinical entity, whose pathophysiology is still unknown and no treatment with clinical evidence is available to date. (c) 2021 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory symptoms caused by infection may overshadow neurological manifestations, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Two cases of COVID-19 patients presenting with encephalitis symptoms were reported, highlighting the lack of specific treatment options for this condition.