Post-infectious rhombencephalitis after coronavirus-19 infection: A case report and literature review

J Neuroimmunol. 2021 Aug 15:357:577623. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577623. Epub 2021 May 29.

Abstract

A wide number of neurological manifestations have been described in association with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). We describe an unusual case of a young man who developed severe rhombencephalitis after COVID-19. He demonstrated clinical and radiological improvement with high dose corticosteroids, plasma exchange and intravenous immune globulin. Our findings, along with previously reported cases that we review here, support an autoimmune para- or post-infectious mechanism and highlight a possible role for immunotherapy in patients with rhombencephalitis after COVID-19.

Keywords: Brainstem encephalitis; COVID-19; Rhombencephalitis; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rhombencephalon / diagnostic imaging*
  • Young Adult