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Published on: July 24, 2016
Cerebral White Matter Injury in a Newborn Infant With COVID-19: A Case Report
Lucas Alves1, Thaís Alcântara1, Adriano Hazin1
1Department of Neuropediatric (LA), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Department of Neonatology (TA, JM), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Department of Radiology (AH), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP); Department of Radiology (LL), Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo; Department of Virology (JJFM), Pernambuco State Central Laboratory (LACEN/PE); and Department of Pediatrics (JA), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, Brazil.
Abstract:
Because the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, reports of neurologic manifestations and neuroimaging associated with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in children and in neonates, although very few when compared with adults.
Objectives:
To describe a 3-day-old neonate presenting afebrile seizures with a persistent positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and neuroimaging demonstrating extensive cerebral white matter injury.
Methods:
Consent was obtained to report this case. SARS-CoV-2 was tested using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification of virus acid from a nasopharyngeal swab. MRI of the brain was performed using axial T1, T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion-weighted imaging, and T1 postcontrast sequences.
Results:
Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion in the periventricular white matter, subcortical white matter, and splenium of the corpus callosum.
Discussion:
Neurologic presentation of SARS-CoV-2 in newborns seems to be rare and is not fully known. SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered in newborns with seizures and white matter abnormalities.
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