ABSTRACT
The adverse events and complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to challenge the medical profession despite the worldwide vaccination against the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19. Other than typical respiratory manifestations, COVID-19 also presents a wide range of neurological manifestations. This article underlines the pooled incidence of COVID-19-induced seizures in patients with epilepsy and without epilepsy. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols, we conducted a bibliographical search, and an initial search revealed 1,375 articles. In total, 21 articles were included in the final analysis by following the inclusion criteria. A total of 11,526 patients from 21 published articles that met the predetermined search criteria were included. The median age of the patients was 61.9 years, of whom 51.5% were males. A total of 255 patients presented with seizures as the first manifestation of COVID-19 with a prevalence of 2.2% (95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.24, p < 0.01) (I 2 = 97%), of which 71 patients had previously been diagnosed with epilepsy. Among patients with epilepsy, 49 patients had seizures as an initial presentation of SARA-CoV-2 with an incidence of 72% (0.54-0.85, p = 0.1) (I 2 = 34). Although the incidence of COVID-19-induced seizures is not high compared to other neurological manifestations, seizure incidence in epileptic patients with COVID-19 is remarkably high. New-onset seizures in any patient should be considered a presentation of COVID-19 in the absence of other causative factors.
ABSTRACT
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is a class of autoimmune diseases that can cause kidney failure because of mononuclear cell infiltration and the destruction of small and medium-sized blood vessels. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may trigger or exacerbate autoimmune diseases. We present a case of ANCA-associated vasculitis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis after a COVID-19 infection, who presented with intermittent hemoptysis and dyspnea and was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia three weeks ago. Her clinical, radiological, and serological picture was concerned with pulmonary-renal syndrome. Her serum was positive for antinuclear antibody and ANCAs, and renal biopsy showed pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. She was diagnosed clinicopathologically with pauci-immune glomerulonephritis in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after a COVID-19 infection. Her condition improved after she was treated with rituximab and pulse dose methylprednisolone.
ABSTRACT
Mass vaccination against coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has effectively controlled the pandemic and has been remarkably effective and safe. Reports of a few adverse events have been reported after post-marketing surveillance. We present a rare case of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse in a female who presented with fatigue, involuntary eye movements, and numbness; autoimmunity following the COVID-19 vaccine has also been described. She was diagnosed with MS six years back and was in remission. She received her COVID-19 vaccine 18 days ago. Her clinical and radiological features confirmed the MS relapse. Her serology for COVID-19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM was positive, and she was managed with intravenous methylprednisolone and symptomatic management. Our case provides a possible association of vaccine-associated MS relapse; however, more evidence is warranted from future studies.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Apart from respiratory manifestations, COVID-19 can affect the nervous system due to its neurotropic features. Neurological manifestations and complications include headache, polyneuropathies, cerebrovascular accidents, seizures, encephalopathy, and demyelinating disease. We describe a case of multiple sclerosis, a demyelinating disease following COVID-19 infection, rarely reported in the literature. A 47-year-old female presented with fatigue, blurry vision, numbness, and signs of upper motor neuron lesions that had occurred three weeks after COVID-19 infection. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed demyelinating lesions in the periventricular area of both hemispheres, suggesting a demyelinating disease. A provisional diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was made. Her condition improved after the commencement of methylprednisolone.
ABSTRACT
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience neuropsychiatric symptoms. The term neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) is a generic term that refers to a series of neurological and psychiatric symptoms directly related to SLE. In approximately 30% of patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms, SLE is the primary cause (NPSLE), and symptoms manifest more frequently around SLE onset. Neurovascular and psychotic conditions can also lead to NPSLE. Pathogenesis of NPSLE is implicated in both neuroinflammatory and ischemic mechanisms, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. After diagnosing and assigning causality, NPSLE treatment is individualized according to the type of neuropsychiatric manifestations, type of the predominant pathway, activity of SLE, and severity of the clinical manifestations. There are many problems to be addressed with regards to the diagnosis and management of NPSLE. Controlled clinical trials provide limited guidance for management, and observational cohort studies support symptomatic, antithrombotic, and immunosuppressive agents. The purpose of this review was to provide a detailed and critical review of the literature on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of NPSLE. This study aimed to identify the shortcoming in diagnostic biomarkers, novel therapies against NPSLE, and additional research needs.
ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder known to affect the nervous system by direct neuronal damage, vasculitis, or pathologic mechanisms indirectly induced by immune mechanisms related to the production and deposition of immune complexes. SLE has a wide range of clinical manifestations due to the involvement of almost every organ system of the body. SLE presents with serositis, mucositis, arthralgia, glomerulopathy, hematological, cutaneous, and hematological manifestations. Among the neurological manifestations of SLE, posterior reversible encephalopathy is rarely described in the literature. We report a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy in a female patient who presented with seizures, altered mentation, headache, and blurry vision in the setting of undiagnosed SLE.
ABSTRACT
The association between coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and autoimmune disease has been mounting, and literature on COVID-19-induced flare-up of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease is lacking. We describe a case of lupus cerebritis triggered by COVID-19 in a young female with SLE, who presented with fluctuated mentation, psychomotor retardation, slow speech, and intermittent choreiform movement in the upper part of the body. She had a history of COVID-19 infection three weeks back. Her serum immunoglobulin G antibodies were positive against COVID-19. On examination, she had psychomotor agitation, intermittent choreiform movements of upper limbs, and poor speech. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintense signals in the white matter of both hemispheres, suggestive of lupus cerebritis secondary to COVID-19 infection and lack of any other identifiable risk factor. Management included methylprednisolone, prednisone, and olanzapine. The patient was also placed on monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide, and her condition started improving gradually.
