Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2023
Abstract
Background and Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to cause primarily respiratory symptoms, however, neurological disorders such as anosmia and stroke have been seen. Encephalitis is a rare complication of COVID-19 with a reported incidence of less than 1%¹. Most patients develop both COVID-19 symptoms and encephalitis symptoms during the same period¹. In addition, the majority of reports are from patients with no prior vaccination. Here, we present a case of encephalitis 2 weeks after mild COVID-19 in a fully vaccinated male.
Case Presentation: A 68-year-old Hispanic male was brought to the ED due to new onset gaze deviation, generalized tonic posturing, facial drooping, and unresponsiveness. Days prior to his symptoms, family members reported he was found staring blankly, confused, disoriented, and experienced multiple falls. The patient had a positive COVID-19 PCR exam 2 weeks prior to developing the symptoms, despite completing two doses of the Moderna vaccine 6 months prior. His sole symptom at the time was a cough.
At admission, SARS-CoV-2 PCR was negative. NIHSS was 15. He was intubated and CT head was negative for active bleeding. tPA was administered for suspected ischemic stroke, however brain perfusion CT and MRI ruled out large vessel occlusion. He was started on Levetiracetam for seizures; 6 days later, Valproate was added. He remained intubated due to an altered state of mind, airway protection, and continuous seizure activity. 24-hour cEEG showed: slower background with multiple sedating agents on. CSF analysis showed elevated: protein (73), glucose (116) and pleocytosis (WBC = 26; of which 87% lymphocytes); Panel was: negative for infectious encephalitis (e.g. CMV, HSV, N. Meningitidis, VZV, Cryptococcus), Anti-NMDA receptor Ab, Anti-LGI1 Ab. Serologies were negative for ANCA, ANA, dsDNA and Anti-Proteinase-3 Ab.
Post-COVID encephalitis was suspected and plasmapheresis exchange (PLEX) therapy was started. He completed five treatments of PLEX with marked improvement after therapy. Given the significant clinical improvement, he was successfully extubated. Patient’s neurological status progressively improved, reaching closer to his baseline status. He was transferred to the medical floor and eventually to acute rehab.
Conclusion: Post COVID-19 encephalitis should be in the differential for patients with new onset altered mental status (AMS) and prior history of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients presenting with encephalitis should be tested and questioned for COVID diagnosis, even in those fully vaccinated. The length of stay may be reduced with treatments targeted towards COVID encephalitis and shorter delay in presentation to treatment2. Though a COVID CSF PCR was not done in this case, to date, there are no definitive reports of SARS-CoV-2 detection in CSF3. Additionally, this case supports the use of PLEX therapy, as there are multiple other options that are still being studied for the limited cases reported.
Recommended Citation
Pena, Christian; Movva, Hari; Arredondo, Hector; Pena, Alberto; Hinojosa, Erik; Rotko, Michael; Nadal, Jorge; and Lopez, Michelle, "A Rare Case of COVID Encephalitis in a Vaccinated Patient" (2023). MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years. 71.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/som9331/71
Academic Level
medical student
Mentor/PI Department
Internal Medicine
Included in
Internal Medicine Commons, Medical Physiology Commons, Neurology Commons, Physiological Processes Commons