COVID-19 associated with encephalomyeloradiculitis and positive anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies: Cause or coincidence?
Diogo Goulart Corrêa, Fabiana Cavalcanti de Souza Lima, Daniel Bezerra, Antônio Carlos Coutinho, Luiz Celso Hygino da Cruz
Abstract
Neurologic complications are being recognized as important outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Pathogenesis is varied and incompletely understood, and may include neuroinvasion, indirect post-infectious neuroinflammation, and cerebrovascular pathologies. We present a case of COVID-19-related encephalomyeloradiculitis with clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders that was associated with anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies. Our case suggests post-infectious autoimmunity as a mechanism in at least a subset of patients with COVID-19-related neurologic disease.
Topics & Concepts
Neuromyelitis opticaAquaporin 4Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PathogenesisMedicineAutoimmunityAntibodyNeuroinflammationImmunologyDiseaseCoronavirusPneumoniaSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakVirologyPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)Internal medicineOutbreakLong-Term Effects of COVID-19Multiple Sclerosis Research StudiesRetinal and Optic Conditions