SARS-CoV-2 associated viral encephalitis with mortality outcome

• Published in: Interdisciplinary neurosurgery : Advanced techniques and case management Vol. 25; p. 101132
• Main Authors: Azab, Mohammed A., Azzam, Ahmed Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021; The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V; Elsevier
• Subjects: Case Reports & Case Series; COVID-19; Encephalitis; Mortality; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Encephalitis; SARS-CoV-2; Mortality
• ISSN: 2214-7519; 2214-7519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2021.101132

•An elderly patient developed viral encephalitis after SARS-COV-2 infection.•Our case's aim to increase awareness about SARS-CoV-2 possible complications. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019; apart from common conditions such as cough, fever, and severe respiratory complications, difficulty in breathing, including tachypnea, new studies on neurological manifestations have gained public interest. An 89-year-old man was admitted to the neurocritical care department in a specialized hospital with headache, dizziness, hyperpyrexia, myalgia, rash, and tremors. MRI showed viral encephalitis near to basal ganglia and thalami. Coronaviruses interfere with target cells by membrane-bound spike proteins. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was identified as an input receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Due to its wide pattern of expression, COVID-19 was shown to affect several organs, including the central nervous system, where the receptor is mainly expressed as neurons. In the current pandemic, there is a rising number of global infections, the aim of our case to increase the awareness about SARS-CoV-2 possible complications, even if there are possible further mutations for the virus, especially in the central nervous system.