Hipótesis neuroinvasiva en un caso de delirium atípico en paciente con neumonía por COVID-19

Abstract

Objective

Delirium is the most frequent neuropsychiatric complication in patients with a severe condition caused by COVID-19. We present an atypical case from a clinical and phenomenological point of view, and we reflect on the involved etiological mechanisms.

Clinical case

55-year-old male, active physician, first admitted into the conventional hospitalization unit and is clinically stable after being admitted into the Intensive Care Unit for pneumonia caused by severe COVID-19. He presents an atypical delirium with very significant memory and language disorders, which are measured psychometrically, while maintaining a good attention and alertness level. The rest of the complementary tests carried out are normal or not very conclusive.

Results

The evolution during his admission is good and the recovery complete after one month of being discharged from the hospital.

Conclusions

The atypical presentation and clinical evolution of this framework of delirium allow us to raise the question of the direct neuroinvasive role of COVID-19 in this case.