Original clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 induced CNS impairment: A clinical case of cerebellar syndrome

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus that emerged in China in December 2019, rapidly becoming a global pandemic. We report here the case of a 23-year-old man presenting with an acute dry cough associated with neurological disorders in a feverish setting. One day after being admitted to hospital, the patient presented with vertigo and asthenia. His neurological examination showed difficult standing with cerebellar walking and dysmetria. Brain MRI as well as cytochemical examination of the CSF showed normal results. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 by PCR was positive at the nasopharyngeal level and negative at the level of the CSF. The patient was treated with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and methylprednisolone. A good improvement was noted during his hospitalization. The cerebellar neurological involvement associated with SARS-CoV-2 was retained given the clinical and epidemiological context and taking into consideration the mechanism of neurological involvement in COVID-19 which can be direct or indirect. © 2022 Youssef F. et al.