COVID-19-associated transverse myelitis treated by therapeutic plasma exchange: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a very uncommon condition in children which can be associated with viral infections. Acute TM cases have been reported after Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during the pandemic. CASE REPORT: We report a child with TM related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, who was successfully treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Inability to walk and urinary retention were the central nervous system symptom. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed signal changes in the spinal cord. Her neurological symptoms worsened despite receiving IVIG and high-dose steroids for the first 3 d. We performed 10 TPE sessions with 5% albumin replacement and the neurological symptoms rapidly improved. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that a child diagnosed with acute TM related to COVID-19 infection, was successfully treated with TPE.

New dermatological findings of MIS-C: Can mucocutaneous involvement be associated with Severe Disease Course?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about mucocutaneous involvement in critically ill patients with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The aim of our study was to describe the localisation and variety of rash and to investigate whether presenting with rash at admission alters the clinical course of MIS-C. METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted amongst children under 18 years of age who were admitted to our paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between May 2020 and May 2021 with a possible diagnosis of MIS-C. RESULTS: A total of 33 children with MIS-C, 21 boys (64%), with a median age of 9.4 years (3.4-11.5) were enrolled. Twenty-four children presented with mucocutaneous symptoms (72%). Age, male gender, PICU length of stay, presenting symptoms, inotrope requirement, the existence of myocarditis or respiratory failure were higher but not significantly different in patients with rash compared to those without rash (P > 0.05). The median duration of symptoms before admission and presence of cervical lymphadenopathy were significantly higher in patients than those without rash (P < 0.05). Children with a rash had a significantly higher neutrophil count, CRP, procalcitonin, troponin levels and lower lymphocyte counts and albumin levels than those without rash (P < 0.05). Twelve children with rash (50%) had symmetrical intertriginous distribution. Two children had erythematous lesions on the areola and the surroundings. In conclusion, intertriginous involvement, periareolar erythema and other mucocutaneous manifestations might be the first alarming symptoms of moderate to severe MIS-C. Therefore, close monitoring with a multidisciplinary approach should be considered for these patients to assess potential disease progression.

Acute Cerebellitis in MIS-C: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is characterized predominantly by respiratory symptoms and has affected a small subset of children. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been reported in children following COVID-19. There is increasing report that COVID-19 may also lead to neurologic manifestations. Cerebellar lesions may be observed in viral infections. CASE REPORT: We report a child with MIS-C related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, who developed cerebellar lesion during the disease course. Encephalopathy was the first central nervous system symptom. His consciousness improved but he developed clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction including ataxia, dysarthria and nystagmus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed symmetrical pathological signal changes in both cerebellar hemispheres. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the first child with MIS-C to develop cerebellar lesion on brain MRI, suggestive of cerebellitis.

COVID-19-associated Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis-like Disease in 2 Children.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the predominant clinical presentation is a respiratory disease, neurologic manifestations are being recognized increasingly. CASE REPORT: We report 2 children 9 years of age who developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis-like disease associated with SARS-CoV-2. Seizures and encephalopathy were the main central nervous system symptoms. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis performed within the first week of disease onset showed elevated protein in both children with normal cell count and no evidence of infection including negative SARS-CoV-2 by antibody and polymerase chain reaction. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed T2A, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery cortical and subcortical hyperintensity without restricted diffusion consistent with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis-like disease. They received methylprednisolone followed by therapeutic plasma exchange. One of them showed complete clinical improvement and resolution in magnetic resonance imaging findings. The other developed laminar necrosis in brain magnetic resonance imaging and showed significant clinical improvement after therapeutic plasma exchange. He was positive for positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody in cerebrospinal fluid on day 55 of admission. They were both positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in serum after 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Our two cases highlight the occurrence of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis-like disease as a postinfectious/immune-mediated complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection.