ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 infection commonly affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems, resulting in a variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Whereas the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on neuronal structures in the short and long-term are still controversial, neurological involvement secondary to SARS-CoV- 2 is heterogeneous in terms of clinical presentation, treatment response, and prognosis. METHOD: A case of autoimmune encephalitis developing after SARS-CoV-2 is described in this article. RESULTS: The patient was admitted to the clinic with classical signs of catatonia and encephalopathy. The emergence of neuropsychiatric problems after the relief of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms suggests that symptoms were primarily related to immune processes. This patient demonstrated a good clinical response to symptomatic catatonia treatment and immune-modulatory agents and recovered both physically and cognitively without sequelae. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection may involve encephalitic involvement and psychological symptoms (including catatonia) after the infection by triggering autoimmune pathways.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System , COVID-19 , Catatonia , Humans , COVID-19/complications , Catatonia/etiology , Catatonia/complications , SARS-CoV-2 , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/complications , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/diagnosis , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/therapySubject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/poisoning , Clozapine/poisoning , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Delirium/chemically induced , Ileus/chemically induced , Neutropenia/chemically induced , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Aged , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Betacoronavirus , Bipolar Disorder/complications , Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy , COVID-19 , Catatonia/complications , Clozapine/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Psychotic Disorders/complications , SARS-CoV-2 , Schizophrenia/complicationsABSTRACT
Catatonic patients may develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) due to prolonged periods of immobility. These life-threatening conditions demand prompt recognition and management. We describe the case of a patient with catatonia who presented to anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) at the outset of the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. She complained of breathing difficulty and was suspected to have COVID-19 infection. On further evaluation, she was found to have DVT and PE and required oxygen therapy and intensive care management. The diagnostic delay in our patient would have probably not occurred, had it not been for the existing pandemic situation.