Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Cytokine Release Syndrome-Associated Encephalopathy in Patients with COVID-19

Version 1 : Received: 5 June 2020 / Approved: 7 June 2020 / Online: 7 June 2020 (15:50:37 CEST)

How to cite: Perrin, P.; Collongues, N.; Baloglu, S.; Bedo, D.; Bassand, X.; Lavaux, T.; Gautier, G.; Keller, N.; Kremer, S.; Fafi-Kremer, S.; Moulin, B.; Benotmane, I.; Caillard, S. Cytokine Release Syndrome-Associated Encephalopathy in Patients with COVID-19. Preprints 2020, 2020060103. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0103.v1 Perrin, P.; Collongues, N.; Baloglu, S.; Bedo, D.; Bassand, X.; Lavaux, T.; Gautier, G.; Keller, N.; Kremer, S.; Fafi-Kremer, S.; Moulin, B.; Benotmane, I.; Caillard, S. Cytokine Release Syndrome-Associated Encephalopathy in Patients with COVID-19. Preprints 2020, 2020060103. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202006.0103.v1

Abstract

Severe disease and uremia are risk factors for neurological complications of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). An in-depth analysis of a case series was conducted to describe the neurological manifestations of patients with COVID-19 and gain pathophysiological insights that may guide clinical decision-making – especially with respect to the cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Extensive clinical, laboratory, and imaging phenotyping was performed in five patients. Neurological presentation included confusion, tremor, cerebellar ataxia, behavioral alterations, aphasia, pyramidal syndrome, coma, cranial nerve palsy, dysautonomia, and central hypothyroidism. Neurological disturbances were remarkably accompanied by laboratory evidence of CRS. SARS-CoV-2 was undetectable in the cerebrospinal fluid. Hyperalbuminorachy and increased levels of the astroglial protein S100B were suggestive of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. Brain MRI findings comprised evidence of acute leukoencephalitis (n = 3, of whom one with a hemorrhagic form), cytotoxic edema mimicking ischemic stroke (n = 1), or normal results (n = 2). Treatment with corticosteroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulins was attempted – resulting in rapid recovery from neurological disturbances in two cases. Patients with COVID-19 can develop neurological manifestations that share clinical, laboratory, and imaging similarities with those of chimeric antigen receptor-T cell-related encephalopathy. The pathophysiological underpinnings appear to involve CRS, endothelial activation, BBB dysfunction, and immune-mediated mechanisms.

Keywords

clinical medecine; physiopathology; COVID-19; neurological manifestations; kidney disease; cytokine; corticosteroids; intravenous immunoglobulins

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Neurology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.