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Two COVID-19-related video-accompanied cases of severe ataxia-myoclonus syndrome
Affiliations- Neurology & Stroke Department, St. Adalbert Hospital, Gdansk, Poland
- Neurology & Stroke Department, J. Korczak Specialist Hospital, Slupsk, Poland
- Department of Neurological-Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
open access
Abstract
Aim of the study. The pandemic state of COVID-19 has resulted in new neurological post-infection syndromes. Recently, several papers have reported ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to present our two cases and compare them to previously reported cases. Materials and methods. We present two video-accompanied new cases with ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection and discuss the studies published so far. Results. Ataxia-myoclonus syndrome, isolated myoclonus, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome as post-COVID-19 syndrome following infection have been described in 16 patients (including our two cases). Patients have been treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or steroids except for 4 patients, which resulted in a significant improvement within 1–8 weeks. Conclusions and clinical implications. The increasing number of patients with a similar symptomatology shows a significant relationship between COVID-19 infection and ataxia-myoclonus syndrome. The subacute onset of neurological symptoms after a resolved COVID-19 infection and prominent response to immunotherapy may suggest that the neurological manifestations are immune-mediated. Although recovery is highly possible, it may take several weeks/months, and clinicians should be aware of this diagnosis and the beneficial effects of immunological treatment administered as soon as possible.
Abstract
Aim of the study. The pandemic state of COVID-19 has resulted in new neurological post-infection syndromes. Recently, several papers have reported ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to present our two cases and compare them to previously reported cases. Materials and methods. We present two video-accompanied new cases with ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection and discuss the studies published so far. Results. Ataxia-myoclonus syndrome, isolated myoclonus, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome as post-COVID-19 syndrome following infection have been described in 16 patients (including our two cases). Patients have been treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or steroids except for 4 patients, which resulted in a significant improvement within 1–8 weeks. Conclusions and clinical implications. The increasing number of patients with a similar symptomatology shows a significant relationship between COVID-19 infection and ataxia-myoclonus syndrome. The subacute onset of neurological symptoms after a resolved COVID-19 infection and prominent response to immunotherapy may suggest that the neurological manifestations are immune-mediated. Although recovery is highly possible, it may take several weeks/months, and clinicians should be aware of this diagnosis and the beneficial effects of immunological treatment administered as soon as possible.
Keywords
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, ataxia, myoclonus, voice tremor
About this articleTitle
Two COVID-19-related video-accompanied cases of severe ataxia-myoclonus syndrome
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Article type
Short Communication
Pages
310-313
Published online
2021-04-26
Page views
1987
Article views/downloads
1693
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2021;55(3):310-313.
Keywords
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
ataxia
myoclonus
voice tremor
Authors
Filip Przytuła
Szymon Błądek
Jarosław Sławek
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