Encephalopathy with Delirium and Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure in a Patient with Severe COVID-19
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https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.105Keywords:
COVID-19, Delirium, Encephalopathy, Organizing Pneumonia, SARS-CoV-2Abstract
Neurological manifestations of COVID-19, despite being far
less frequent than respiratory symptoms, are rising in importance, presenting a broad clinical spectrum.
The authors report the case of a 70-year-old man with
severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-
-CoV-2 infection. During hospitalisation he presented with irritability, confusion, fluctuating levels of consciousness and coma. Serology and autoimmunity for neurologic diseases were negative. Electroencephalogram indicated encephalopathy and brain magnetic resonance excluded lesions of inflammatory or vascular nature. A thorax computed tomography scan was performed due to persistent respiratory failure and showed organizing pneumonia. Prednisolone was introduced with neurological and respiratory improvement.
The authors aim to raise awareness for severe COVID-19-
-related encephalopathy and for the fact that, despite having no specific treatment, there is a potential role for high-dose steroids in selected patients. Further studies are needed to understand both the role of steroids and the long-term neurological sequelae of severe COVID-19.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Ana Rita Ramalho, Adriana Henriques, Helena Rodrigues, Ana Carolina Pires, Inês Gomes, Maja Petrova
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