COVID-19-related encephalopathy presenting with aphasia resolving following tocilizumab treatment

We report the case of a middle-aged woman with COVID-19-related encephalopathy presenting as expressive aphasia and inattentiveness, subsequently progressing to agitation and marked confusion. Brain MRI and CSF analysis were unremarkable, while EEG showed slowing with frontal sharp waves. Neuropsychiatric symptoms resolved following treatment with tocilizumab.CNS involvement in COVID-19 may present as a subacute encephalopathy characterized by prominent frontal lobe dysfunction, with language disturbances as first neurological manifestation.

Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - September 22, 2020 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Lorenzo Muccioli, Umberto Pensato, Ilaria Cani, Luca Guerra, Federica Provini, Giorgio Bordin, Luca Albini Riccioli, Raffaele Lodi, Paolo Tinuper, Francesca Bisulli Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research