Acute encephalitis associated with SARS-CoV-2: first case report in Peru

ABSTRACT

Resumen En el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19, se han descrito formas clínicas atípicas, en las que predominan síntomas extrar-respiratorios;entre ellos han sido reportados casos de manifestaciones neurológicas concurrentes. En base a la identificación de coronavirus en el sistema nervioso central en el brote SARS-CoV del 2002, se ha planteado un potencial neurotropismo del SARS-CoV-2. En la literatura mundial se han descrito escasos pacientes con encefalitis aguda asociada a SARS-CoV-2. En este reporte les presentamos dos casos de pacientes peruanos con encefalitis aguda concurrente a COVID-19, revisamos la literatura y discutimos los posibles mecanismos de neurotropismo y neuro-invasión. Summary In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, atypical clinical forms have been described, in which extra-respiratory symptoms predominate;among them, cases of concurrent neurological manifestations have been reported. Based on the coronavirus identification in the central nervous system in the 2002 SARS-CoV outbreak, a potential neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 has been raised. Few patients with acute encephalitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 have been described in the world literature. In this report we present two cases of Peruvian patients with acute encephalitis concurrent to COVID-19, we reviewed the literature and discussed the possible mechanisms of neurotropism and neuroinvasion.