SARS-CoV-2 associated viral encephalitis with mortality outcome

• Main Authors: Mohammed A. Azab, Ahmed Y. Azzam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
• Series: Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery
• Subjects: COVID-19; Encephalitis; Mortality; SARS-CoV-2
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221475192100044X

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019; apart from common conditions such as cough, fever, and severe respiratory complications, difficulty in breathing, including tachypnea, new studies on neurological manifestations have gained public interest. Case report: An 89-year-old man was admitted to the neurocritical care department in a specialized hospital with headache, dizziness, hyperpyrexia, myalgia, rash, and tremors. MRI showed viral encephalitis near to basal ganglia and thalami. Discussion: Coronaviruses interfere with target cells by membrane-bound spike proteins. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was identified as an input receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Due to its wide pattern of expression, COVID-19 was shown to affect several organs, including the central nervous system, where the receptor is mainly expressed as neurons. Conclusions: In the current pandemic, there is a rising number of global infections, the aim of our case to increase the awareness about SARS-CoV-2 possible complications, even if there are possible further mutations for the virus, especially in the central nervous system.