Nonepileptic Myoclonus in COVID-19: Case Report. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hewan, Henly; Yang, Annie; Vaddiparti, Aparna; Keung, Benison
• Is Part Of: Neurohospitalist. Volume 12:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: myoclonus -- COVID-19 -- immune-mediated -- post-infectious; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1177/19418744211004315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1941-8744

Abstract

In late 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes, COVID-19, was identified. Since then many different neurological manifestations of COVID-19 have been well reported. Movement abnormalities have been rarely described. We report here a critically ill patient with COVID-19 who developed generalized myoclonus during the recovery phase of the infection. Myoclonus was associated with cyclical fevers and decreased alertness. Movements were refractory to conventional anti-epileptic therapies. There was concern that myoclonus could be part of a post-infectious immune-mediated syndrome. The patient improved fully with a 4-day course of high-dose steroids. Our experience highlights a rare, generalized myoclonus syndrome associated with COVID-19 that may be immune-mediated and is responsive to treatment.