Nonepileptic Myoclonus in COVID-19: Case Report
Henly Hewan1, Annie Yang2, Aparna Vaddiparti3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
The Neurohospitalist
|December 24, 2021
Summary
A rare generalized myoclonus syndrome occurred in a critically ill patient with COVID-19 during recovery. High-dose steroids effectively treated this potential immune-mediated neurological complication.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causes COVID-19, with diverse neurological manifestations reported.
- Movement abnormalities are rare complications of COVID-19.
Observation:
- A critically ill patient with COVID-19 developed generalized myoclonus during the infection's recovery phase.
- The myoclonus was linked to cyclical fevers and reduced alertness.
- Conventional anti-epileptic treatments were ineffective.
Findings:
- The patient's myoclonus was suspected to be part of a post-infectious immune-mediated syndrome.
- A 4-day course of high-dose steroids led to full recovery.
- This case highlights a rare COVID-19-associated generalized myoclonus syndrome.
Implications:
- COVID-19 can present with rare, severe neurological complications like immune-mediated myoclonus.
- Early recognition and prompt treatment with immunomodulatory therapies, such as steroids, are crucial.
- This case expands the understanding of the neurological spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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