High-dose steroid-responsive COVID-19-related encephalopathy with a sudden onset of dysarthria mimicking stroke: a case report.
Naoya KikutsujiHiroshi KataokaTakao KiriyamaKazuma SugiePublished in: Journal of central nervous system disease (2022)
There has been limited research on encephalitis/encephalopathy, which is a less common coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) neurological complication. The differentiation between stroke and encephalopathy with stroke mimickers is challenging in patients with COVID-19. Here, we describe a case of COVID-19-related encephalopathy mimicking stroke that was successfully treated with high-dose steroid pulse therapy. The patient suddenly experienced language disturbance with a left facial droop and symmetric numbness in his upper limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed hyperintensities in both the white matter and splenium. No pneumonia was observed. MRI abnormalities and neurological symptoms resolved after steroid pulse therapy and administration of remdesivir. High-dose steroid pulse treatment (for 3 days) might alleviate COVID-19-related encephalopathy.
Keyphrases
- coronavirus disease
- high dose
- magnetic resonance imaging
- atrial fibrillation
- sars cov
- early onset
- contrast enhanced
- low dose
- blood pressure
- stem cell transplantation
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- computed tomography
- white matter
- cerebral ischemia
- diffusion weighted imaging
- physical activity
- cancer therapy
- mesenchymal stem cells
- bone marrow