Neuropsychiatric presentation of Covid-19-related encephalitis: Case report

Seizure and neuropsychiatric compromise as onset of SARS-CoV-2 associated encephalitis

“…We disagree with the diagnosis immune encephalitis in the index patient ( Orsini et al., 2021 ). Since SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in the CSF using PCR, infectious meningo-encephalitis is more likely than immune encephalitis.…”

“…about a 52 years-old male who presented to a neurological practice with three days of acute inattention, memory impairment, and word finding disorder, accompanied by psychomotor restlessness, aggressiveness, and a seizure ( Orsini et al., 2021 ). Investigations in a hospital revealed a slight lymphocytic pleocytosis, an increased cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) protein, and a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in the CSF ( Orsini et al., 2021 ). Meningo-encephalitis was diagnosed leading first to coma and finally to death ( Orsini et al., 2021 ).…”

“…Investigations in a hospital revealed a slight lymphocytic pleocytosis, an increased cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) protein, and a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in the CSF ( Orsini et al., 2021 ). Meningo-encephalitis was diagnosed leading first to coma and finally to death ( Orsini et al., 2021 ). The study is appealing but raises concerns that need to be discussed.…”

“…Neuropsychiatric complications of SARS-CoV-2 infections include not only depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicidal ideation, insomnia, and delirium as mentioned in the introduction ( Orsini et al., 2021 ) but also isolated hallucinations ( Pleszkó et al., 2021 ), akinetic mutism ( Fusunyan et al., 2021 ), autism spectrum disorder ( Martínez-González et al., 2021 ), and eating disorders ( Tavolacci et al., 2021 ).…”

Response letter: Neuropsychiatric presentation of Covid-19-related encephalitis: Case report

“…We agree that the diagnosis was infectious encephalitis, not immune-mediated. This is written in the first paragraph of the discussion "We reported a case of encephalitis due to Covid-19 with positive CSF RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, in which agitation was the first symptom ( Orsini et al, 2021 ). We argued that the clinical criteria for immune-mediated encephalitis may be used as a guide for general encephalitis, not that the etiology of the reported case is immune-mediated.…”