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. 2022 Mar;37(4):268-272.
doi: 10.1177/08830738211069814. Epub 2022 Jan 11.

Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis Following COVID-19 Infection

Mark Hilado  1 , Michelle Banh  2 , James Homans  3 , Arthur Partikian  4
Affiliations

Pediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis Following COVID-19 Infection

Mark Hilado et al. J Child Neurol. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Similar to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection has been shown to be associated with dysregulated and persistent inflammatory reactions and production of some antibodies. We report 3 pediatric patients found to have serum SARS-CoV-2 antibodies who presented with neurologic findings suggestive of postinfectious autoimmune-mediated encephalitis. All 3 cases showed lymphocytic pleocytosis on cerebrospinal fluid studies and marked improvement in neurologic symptoms after high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. The manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population are still an evolving area of study, and these cases suggest autoimmune-mediated encephalitis as yet another SARS-CoV-2 related complication.

Keywords: COVID-19, autoimmune, encephalitis, pediatrics, postinfectious.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Contributions: MH, MB, JH, and AP were all involved in conceptualizing and designing this case series. All authors were involved in the literature review and drafting of this manuscript. All authors approve the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Brain magnetic resonance imaging (#MRI) showing T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery areas of hyperintensity in bilateral parietal lobes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Supplementary concepts