Cerebral involvement in COVID-19 is associated with metabolic and coagulation derangements: an EEG study
- PDF / 684,186 Bytes
- 5 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 72 Downloads / 177 Views
LETTER TO THE EDITORS
Cerebral involvement in COVID‑19 is associated with metabolic and coagulation derangements: an EEG study Giordano Cecchetti1,2,3 · Marco Vabanesi1,2 · Raffaella Chieffo1 · Giovanna Fanelli1 · Fabio Minicucci1 · Federica Agosta3,4 · Moreno Tresoldi5 · Alberto Zangrillo4,6 · Massimo Filippi1,2,3,4 Received: 6 May 2020 / Revised: 26 May 2020 / Accepted: 28 May 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Dear Sirs, In previous reports, clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been described, and risk factors for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death have been proposed: among them, older age, comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, neutrophilia and markers of end-organ and coagulation impairment [1]. Although mortality due to COVID-19 is mainly linked to visceral multi-organ failure, cerebral involvement might worsen the clinical picture. Up to 36% of patients with COVID-19 appear to have neurological manifestations, ranging from headache and dizziness to impaired consciousness and cerebrovascular events [2]. The EEG correlates of such manifestations are still not clear. Giordano Cecchetti and Marco Vabanesi contributed equally to the article and should be both considered first authors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09958-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Massimo Filippi [email protected] 1
Neurophysiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
2
Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
3
Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
4
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
5
General Medicine and Advanced Care Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
6
Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
We report a series of 18 consecutive COVID-19 patients, admitted to our Institution between March and April 2020, evaluated with basal electroencephalogram (EEG) to investigate infection-related neurologic manifestations. All patients had their COVID-19 diagnosis confirmed by means of duplo SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs, and compatible chest X-ray and/ or CT scan. Patients were divided in three groups, according to the level of EEG background activity alteration on a threegrade scale [normal/mild (N = 5), moderate (N = 9) or severe (N = 4)] derived with modifications from Amodio et al. [3]. Neurological manifestations prompting EEG examination were transient loss of consciousness, seizures/spasms, delirium and coma, with different distribution in the patient groups; no subjects reported history of anosmia/ageusia. Demographic and clinical features of patients are repo
Data Loading...
