Neurological manifestations of COVID-19: A literature review

A novel coronavirus that started from the Wuhan province of China is affecting the whole world. As of this date, more than 222 million cases are reported with more than 4.60 million fatalities. Nepal has more than 771,000 cases reported with almost 11,000 death recorded to date. Though most of the patients present with flu-like symptoms, people with comorbidities like Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lung, and heart disease most likely suffer from severe disease and even death. As reported, neurological manifestations are common in critically ill patients. The most common manifestation of CNS is headache, dizziness, and encephalopathy whereas loss of smell and taste is the common PNS manifestation. Other neurological complications seen are fatigue, myalgias, hemorrhage, altered consciousness, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, syncope, seizure, and stroke. Non-specific neurological symptoms may be present in the early stages which can mislead the treatment. In some cases, neurological manifestations precede the typical presentation of fever, cough, and shortness of breath and later develop into typical features. The virus enters the brain through 2 systems: hematogenous route or olfactory route. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is the port of entry to the brain for COVID- 19(SARS-CoV-2) which was also the entry point for SARS-CoV. Covid-19 cases are increasing in the world and prevention and control of spread are a must. Understanding the neurological invasion pathogenesis, and manifestation will help the neurologists and physicians on frontlines to recognize early cases with nervous system involvement, neurological complications, and sequelae during and after the pandemic.

Agyalapimirigy-apoplexia.

Összefoglaló. Az agyalapimirigy-apoplexia ritka klinikai kórkép, mely hirtelen kialakult bevérzés vagy infarktus következményeként jelenik meg. A hypophysisadenomás betegek 2–12%-ában fordul elő, a leggyakrabban funkcionálisan inaktív daganatokban, de jelentkezhet gyógyszeresen kezelt adenomákban is. Klinikai képe hirtelen kialakuló heves fejfájás, mely látászavarral vagy kettős látással társulhat, de meningealis izgalmi jel, a tudati szint romlása is előfordulhat. A bevérzés miatt kialakult kortikotropinhiány kezelés nélkül mellékvese-elégtelenséghez vezet. A mágneses rezonancia a komputertomográfhoz képest jobban kimutatja az adenoma bevérzését vagy akár infarktusát. Retrospektív tanulmányok a korábbi, azonnali idegsebészeti beavatkozás helyett a konzervatív kezelés létjogosultságát emelik ki. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(38): 1520–1525. Summary. Pituitary apoplexy is a rare clinical syndrome secondary to haemorrhage or infarction of pituitary adenoma. The prevalence is 2–12% of pituitary adenoma patients especially in nonfunctioning tumours but may be found in medically treated adenomas as well. Its clinical picture is sudden onset of headache with visual disturbances and/or ocular palsy. Meningeal signs and altered consciousness can occur. Corticotropin deficiency if untreated can lead to adrenal insufficiency. Compared to computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging better demonstrates the haemorrhage or even infarction of pituitary adenoma. Retrospective studies emphasize the wait-and-see management instead of the formerly considered urgent neurosurgical intervention. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(38): 1520–1525.

997Childhood pneumonia in the Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea: clinical predictors of severe disease

Background Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in young children globally and is prevalent in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). We investigated clinical predictors of severe pneumonia to inform local treatment guidelines in this resource-limited setting. Methods Between 2013 and 2020, prospective studies were undertaken enrolling children <5 years presenting with pneumonia to health-care facilities in Goroka Town, Eastern Highlands Province. Physical examination findings and blood cultures were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of hypoxaemia (oxygen saturation <90% on presentation), bacteraemia and death. Results There were 2067 cases of pneumonia, hypoxaemia was detected in 36.1%. Bacteraemia was identified in 47/1943 (2.4%) blood cultures. Of 1444 children followed up, 18 (1.2%) died. Central cyanosis (odds ratio 3.82, 95% CI 2.55-5.71) and reduced breath sounds (2.77, 2.17-3.53) independently predicted hypoxaemia; altered consciousness (21.44, 3.91-117.48), bronchial breathing (10.49, 2.01-54.63) and apnoea (2.54, 1.26-5.14) independently predicted bacteraemia; and altered consciousness (20.95, 2.32-189.00), reduced skin turgor (14.43 (4.79-43.49) and central cyanosis (5.96, 2.13-16.66) independently predicted death. Conclusions In children with pneumonia in the PNG highlands, those with central cyanosis, apnoea, bronchial breathing, altered consciousness or reduced skin turgor are at greatest risk of severe outcomes. Ongoing training of health care workers is essential to ensure these signs are recognised and appropriate management promptly instituted. Key messages Prompt recognition of signs of severity is likely to lead to better outcomes for children in PNG with pneumonia. These findings will inform future modifications to local treatment guidelines.

Lead encephalopathy in an adult opioid abuser

A 38-year-old man presented at the emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting, generalised weakness and altered consciousness. He had been ingesting opioids for over 5 years and had several past hospital admissions for abdominal pain. His investigations showed deranged liver function tests, anaemia and basophilic stippling on the peripheral blood smear. Further investigations revealed a significant increase in the serum lead level. We started chelation with peroral penicillamine 250 mg every 6 hours for 2 days and switched to intramuscular dimercaprol 4 mg/kg every 12 hours and intravenous calcium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid 50 mg/kg in two divided doses daily for the next 5 days. We then discharged him home; he had become clinically stable by that time. We repeated his lead level and followed him up in the clinic. In this report, we emphasise the consideration of lead toxicity in opioid abusers and bring to attention a rare way of lead chelation in resource-limited settings.

Pituitary Apoplexy, Meningitis and Cerebral Infarction - A Perplexing Trifecta

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a clinical diagnosis comprising a sudden onset of headache, neurological deficits, endocrine disturbances, altered consciousness, visual loss, or ophthalmoplegia. However, clinically, the presentation of PA is extremely variable and occasionally fatal. While meningitis and cerebral infarcts are themselves serious diseases, they are rarely seen as manifestations of PA and are exceedingly rare when present together.We present the case of a 20-year-old male with a rapid progression of symptoms of meningitis, PA and stroke. The present article seeks to emphasize a rare manifestation of PA with an attempt to understand the intricacies of its evaluation and management.

Recurrent pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy

Pituitary apoplexy is caused by haemorrhage or infarction of the pituitary gland. Presenting signs and symptoms often include severe headache, visual disturbance, ophthalmoplegia, altered consciousness and impaired pituitary function. The management of pituitary apoplexy has very rarely been described during pregnancy and there is no existing data for further pregnancies of affected women. We present a case of a woman with a recurrent pituitary apoplexy due to haemorrhages in a pituitary adenoma in her third and fourth pregnancies. In both pregnancies, the pituitary apoplexy was managed conservatively, but due to therapy-resistant headaches, a preterm delivery was implemented.

Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy with Reversible Splenial Lesion Type II with New Spectrum

Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a clinicoradiological entity characterized by mild encephalopathy with typical radiological findings. We report a case of 10-year-old male child who presented with abnormal body movements and altered consciousness. MRI revealed typical Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) type II lesions. On follow-up, although patient improved clinically with reversal of MERS type II lesions; however, multiple punctuate blooming foci, suggesting microhemorrhages, were seen on imaging in bilateral cerebral hemispheres. This has not been documented yet and signifies a new spectrum of MERS.

Posterieur reversibel encefalopathiesyndroom in het postpartum

A late postpartum complication The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-radiological syndrome characterized by acute neurological symptoms such as headaches, visual symptoms, altered consciousness and epileptic seizures in combination with subcortical vascular edema. One of the possible causes of PRES is pre-eclampsia. Observational studies show that some women with new-onset hypertension in the postpartum have an imbalance in pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, as in women with antepartum pre-eclampsia. Based on this case report, this potentially dangerous clinical entity is described. The 38-year-old primiparous patient presented 17 days after childbirth with a headache and severe hypertension. The diagnosis of PRES was made via an MRI. There was a good clinical response among chlorthalidone, bisoprolol and amlodipine. Sequential MRI images showed reversibility of the lesions. Regular blood pressure monitoring in women who recently gave birth, is important. New-onset hypertension is an alarm sign for pre-eclampsia in this patient group. Brain imaging is strongly recommended in case of the concomitant presence of risk factors of a headache. Early diagnosis of PRES and rapid treatment are necessary to prevent permanent neurological damage and mortality.

Intravenous Thyroxine Administration in Hospitalized Patients, a Common but Unreported Practice: a Single Institution Recent Experience

Background: Intravenous levothyroxine (IVT4) is FDA-approved for the treatment of myxedema coma (ME). ATA guidelines also acknowledge other rare situations, mostly such where oral/enteral access is compromised for prolonged periods, in which IVT4 may be appropriate. We noticed that at our hospital, IVT4 is administered more frequently than expected. Aim of study: To assess the extent of IVT4 administration, the indications for such a treatment, and its outcome at a tertiary facility. Study design and Methods: A retrospective study of IVT4 administered to adult inpatients at Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center between January 2017 and July 2020. A list of dispensed T4 vials during the period of interest was generated from the hospital pharmacy computerized database. Patients’ charts were searched for relevant clinical and laboratory data. Results: 107 patients (62 W/45 M), age 62.5±17.3 y (range 20-97) received IV T4, in the course of 113 hospitalizations. 94 subjects had primary hypothyroidism (PH), 10 had central hypothyroidism, while 3 subjects had no documented evidence of hypothyroidism. ME was likely in only 4 cases (3.5%). The leading stated indication for IVT4 was profound hypothyroidism in 57 instances (50.4%), jeopardized enteral route in 11 (9.7%), while no clear or justifiable indication was found in 39 cases (34.5%). An official endocrine consult backed treatment 74 times (65.5%). In subjects with PH, median serum TSH prior to treatment was 36.4 mIU/L (IQR 8-42), while free T4 was 0.4 ng/dl (IRQ 0.22-0.61, normal 0.8-1.7). In subjects with no ME, altered consciousness was present in 19%, bradycardia in 6.3% and 4.5% were hypothermic. The median initial dose of IV-T4 was 150 μg (range 20-500). Repeated administrations ranged from 1 to 29 times, with a median cumulative dose of 250 μg (IQR 150-400, range 20-3300). We could not identify adverse events directly attributable to IV-T4. Of the 113 admissions, 61 ended in patient’s recovery and discharge (54%), 22 (19.5%) in transfer to a rehab or nursing facility, while there were 30 cases of death (26.5%). Only one of the 4 patients with presumed ME died. In a logistic regression model, that also included age, gender, and ICU admission, the only variable that significantly predicted death was a need for artificial ventilation (OR:27.8, CI 3.5-189). In contrast, free T4, TSH, hospitalization length, altered consciousness, and other potential variables, were excluded from the equation. Conclusions: IVT4 administration is a common practice at our hospital. In a small minority of cases (13.2%), it is given for approved clinical conditions, while in all the others it appears to be unjustified. Reports on this practice are all but absent from the literature. Studies from other institutions are needed to determine its global extent, safety, and efficacy. Until it is proven safe and cost-effective, greater caution should be exercised before allowing it.

Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis with Guillain-Barré syndrome overlap following chlamydia infection

Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE) is a rare autoimmune encephalitis characterised by ataxia, ophthalmoplegia and altered consciousness. An overlap between BBE with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) shows similar clinical and immunological features. We report a case of BBE with GBS overlap secondary to Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. The triad of altered consciousness, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia were present in the patient. The investigations included cerebrospinal fluid cytoalbuminological dissociation, nerve conduction test that showed prolonged or absent F wave latencies, hyperintensity in the left occipital region on brain MRI and diffuse slow activity on the electroencephalogram. The chlamydia serology was positive indicating a postinfectious cause of BBE syndrome. He required artificial ventilation as his consciousness level deteriorated with tetraparesis, oropharyngeal and respiratory muscle weakness. Immunotherapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone was commenced. He made good recovery with the treatment. Prompt recognition of this rare condition following chlamydia infection is important to guide the management.