Filip Przytuła1, Szymon Błądek2, Jarosław Sławek3,4. 1. Neurology & Stroke Department, St. Adalbert Hospital, Gdansk, Poland. przytula.filip@gmail.com. 2. Neurology & Stroke Department, J. Korczak Specialist Hospital, Slupsk, Poland. 3. Neurology & Stroke Department, St. Adalbert Hospital, Gdansk, Poland. 4. Department of Neurological-Psychiatric Nursing, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: The pandemic state of COVID-19 has resulted in new neurological post-infection syndromes. Recently, several papers have reported ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to present our two cases and compare them to previously reported cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present two video-accompanied new cases with ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection and discuss the studies published so far. RESULTS: Ataxia-myoclonus syndrome, isolated myoclonus, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome as post-COVID-19 syndrome following infection have been described in 16 patients (including our two cases). Patients have been treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or steroids except for 4 patients, which resulted in a significant improvement within 1-8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The increasing number of patients with a similar symptomatology shows a significant relationship between COVID-19 infection and ataxia-myoclonus syndrome. The subacute onset of neurological symptoms after a resolved COVID-19 infection and prominent response to immunotherapy may suggest that the neurological manifestations are immune-mediated. Although recovery is highly possible, it may take several weeks/months, and clinicians should be aware of this diagnosis and the beneficial effects of immunological treatment administered as soon as possible.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The pandemic state of COVID-19 has resulted in new neurological post-infection syndromes. Recently, several papers have reported ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to present our two cases and compare them to previously reported cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present two video-accompanied new cases with ataxia-myoclonus syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection and discuss the studies published so far. RESULTS:Ataxia-myoclonus syndrome, isolated myoclonus, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome as post-COVID-19 syndrome following infection have been described in 16 patients (including our two cases). Patients have been treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and/or steroids except for 4 patients, which resulted in a significant improvement within 1-8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The increasing number of patients with a similar symptomatology shows a significant relationship between COVID-19infection and ataxia-myoclonus syndrome. The subacute onset of neurological symptoms after a resolved COVID-19infection and prominent response to immunotherapy may suggest that the neurological manifestations are immune-mediated. Although recovery is highly possible, it may take several weeks/months, and clinicians should be aware of this diagnosis and the beneficial effects of immunological treatment administered as soon as possible.