Covid-19 decompensating epilepsy in the elderly: A case report

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on chronic diseases, including epilepsy. The imbalance of antiepileptic drugs in case of intercurrent infection with COVID-19 leads to worsening seizures. A 71-year-old man, followed for post-traumatic epilepsy for 30 years, was stabilized with phenobarbital and topiramate. He presented generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures without meningitis. He improved well on midazolam combined with the usual treatment before the diagnosis and worsening of the covid-19. The severity of the lung damage led to hypoxia, recurrence of seizures, and poor prognosis. The association between covid-19 and epilepsy remains pejorative despite management. An epileptic seizure should always be considered as a possible manifestation of COVID-19. The article aimed to establish the relationship between covid-19 and the risk of worsening seizures and to demonstrate the severity of the association between covid-19 and epilepsy in elderly patients.

Unraveling the Shared Genetic Elements Among COVID-19 and Epilepsy: A Computational and Bioinformatics Analysis

“…COVID-19 worsens seizures in elderly patients with epilepsy, including lung damage and hypoxia, which contribute to a poor prognosis. Apart from epilepsy, severe neurological manifestations such as neuroinvasion, endothelial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation are commonly caused in COVID-19 patients (Musoni et al, 2021 andDewanjee 2021). Research is being conducted to understand and treat these symptoms.…”