Pontine demyelination as a late complication of resolved mild COVID-19 infection

Nouran Eshak MD, Mahmoud Abdelnabi MD, Roy Jacob MD, J. Drew Payne DO

ABSTRACT

Previous case reports have demonstrated COVID-19 related neurotropism. Neural infection may result from trans-lamina cribrosa invasion that allows COVID-19 to reach the brain through the olfactory tract. A wide range of symptoms from headaches, anosmia, dysgeusia to neuropathy, encephalitis, cerebrovascular stroke, and rarely demyelination has been reported. Here, we report a case of pontine demyelination causing generalized weakness as a rare neurological complication in a COVID-19 survivor. Our case highlights that even mild and moderate COVID-19 infection can have late neurological sequelae.

Keywords: COVID-19, demyelination, neurological complications, corticosteroids

Article citation: Eshak N, Abdelnabi M, Jacob R, Payne JD. Pontine demyelination as a late complication of resolved mild COVID-19 infection. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2021;9(41):60–63
From: Department of Internal Medicine (NE, MA, JDP), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; Clinical and Experimental Internal Medicine Department (MA), Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; University Medical Center, Radiology Department (RJ), Lubbock, Texas
Submitted: 9/23/2021
Accepted: 10/12/2021
Reviewer: Parunyou Julayanont MD
Conflicts of interest: none
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