tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Clin Neurosci
. 2020 Sep;79:272-274.
doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Jul 7.
Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) in a patient with COVID-19
Bhavika Kakadia[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaffer Ahmed[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Todd Siegal[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Tudor G Jovin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jesse M Thon[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Neurological complications of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are common, and novel manifestations are increasingly being recognized. Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) is a syndrome that has been associated with viral infections, but not previously with COVID-19. In this report, we describe the case of a 69 year-old man who presented with fever and encephalopathy in the setting of a diffusion-restricting splenium lesion, initially mimicking an ischemic stroke. A comprehensive infectious workup revealed positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, and a pro-inflammatory laboratory profile characteristic of COVID-19 infection. His symptoms resolved and the brain MRI findings completely normalized on repeat imaging, consistent with MERS. This case suggests that MERS may manifest as an autoimmune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and should be considered in a patient with evidence of recent COVID-19 infection and the characteristic MERS clinico-radiological syndrome.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2020 Sep;79:272-274.
doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.07.009. Epub 2020 Jul 7.
Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) in a patient with COVID-19
Bhavika Kakadia[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaffer Ahmed[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Todd Siegal[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Tudor G Jovin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jesse M Thon[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33070911
- PMCID: PMC7340073
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.07.009
Abstract
Neurological complications of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are common, and novel manifestations are increasingly being recognized. Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) is a syndrome that has been associated with viral infections, but not previously with COVID-19. In this report, we describe the case of a 69 year-old man who presented with fever and encephalopathy in the setting of a diffusion-restricting splenium lesion, initially mimicking an ischemic stroke. A comprehensive infectious workup revealed positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, and a pro-inflammatory laboratory profile characteristic of COVID-19 infection. His symptoms resolved and the brain MRI findings completely normalized on repeat imaging, consistent with MERS. This case suggests that MERS may manifest as an autoimmune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and should be considered in a patient with evidence of recent COVID-19 infection and the characteristic MERS clinico-radiological syndrome.
Keywords: COVID-19; MERS; Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion; SARS-CoV-2.