Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated encephalitis after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a case report and retrospective case reviews

Yoonkyung Lee; Seon-Jae Ahn; Han-Sang Lee; Yongmoo Kim; Seolah Lee; Hyeyoung Park; Jangsup Moon; Sang Kun Lee; Kon Chu

doi:10.47936/encephalitis.2022.00129

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated encephalitis after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a case report and retrospective case reviews

Encephalitis. 2023 Apr;3(2):71-77. doi: 10.47936/encephalitis.2022.00129. Epub 2023 Mar 28.

Authors

Yoonkyung Lee¹, Seon-Jae Ahn^{1

2}, Han-Sang Lee^{1

2}, Yongmoo Kim¹, Seolah Lee¹, Hyeyoung Park^{1

2}, Jangsup Moon^{1

3}, Sang Kun Lee¹, Kon Chu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
² Hospital Medicine Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
³ Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Several cases of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated encephalitis have been reported after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this case, the patient presented with focal status epilepticus with impaired awareness, auditory hallucinations, and incoherent speech after COVID-19. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed no specific findings. Cerebrospinal fluid results showed pleocytosis and MOG antibody testing confirmed anti-MOG antibody with live cell-based fluorescence-activated cell sorting assay. The patient was diagnosed with MOG antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, and tocilizumab. This case occurred presumably due to auto-antibody production following COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Encephalitis; Myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

Publication types

Case Reports