Acute Demyelinating Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in COVID-19 Infection: A Case Series

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report three patients COVID-19 infection with severe respiratory syndrome requiring intubation, who developed acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

Methods: Patient data were obtained from medical records from the North Memorial Hospital, Robbinsdale, MN, USA.

Results: Three patients (two men and one woman, aged 38-63) presented with fatigue, cough, and fever leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 infection requiring ventilatory support. Two patients were unresponsive and the third patient had severe diffuse weakness. MRI in all patients showed findings consistent with ADEM. CSF showed elevated protein in all patients with normal cell count and no evidence of infection, including negative COVID-19 PCR. All three patients were treated with intravenous corticosteroids and one improved markedly. The other two had minimal response to steroids and no further improvement after IVIG.

Conclusion: Neurological complications from COVID-19 are being rapidly recognized. Our three cases highlight the occurrence of ADEM as a postinfectious/immune-mediated complication of COVID-19 infection, which may be responsive to corticosteroid treatment.

Keywords: Acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (ADEM); Covid-19; SARS-Cov-2.