Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) associated with COVID-19

A 53-year-old man admitted to the critical care secondary to respiratory failure due to COVID-19 developed agitation and global hypotonia. Brain MRI revealed bilateral hyperintense lesions throughout the brain and cerebrospinal fluid identified oligoclonal bands. Intravenous high-dose glucocorticoid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBMJ case reports Vol. 13; no. 12
Main Authors Langley, Lawrence, Zeicu, Claudia, Whitton, Louise, Pauls, Mathilde
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group 13.12.2020
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Case Report
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Summary:A 53-year-old man admitted to the critical care secondary to respiratory failure due to COVID-19 developed agitation and global hypotonia. Brain MRI revealed bilateral hyperintense lesions throughout the brain and cerebrospinal fluid identified oligoclonal bands. Intravenous high-dose glucocorticoids were administered followed by an oral tapering dose and the patient clinically improved. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis should be considered in patients with COVID-19 who present with altered mentation and polyfocal neurological deficits.
Bibliography:LL and CZ are joint first authors.
ISSN:1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2020-239597