Post COVID-19 Vaccination Induced Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis: Case Report

  • Vlada Meļņikova (Speaker)
  • Ramona Valante (Co-author)
  • Muravska, T. (Co-author)

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Poster presentation

Description

Objectives: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is known as an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, that is commonly triggered by an environmental stimulus (preceding infection or immunization). It is more common vaccination complication in children, but rare in adults. Presentation can be various multifocal neurologic symptoms with encephalopathy and rapid deterioration, that needs hospitalization. Case report: A 72-year-old male presented to Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital with progressive letargy, encephalopaty, severe rigidity in all extremities. His body temperature was increased up to 39°. A month and a half before hospitalization (06.04.2021) patient received vaccination from Covid-19 with Vaxzevria (previously AstraZeneca) vaccine. Two weeks after vaccination patient began to experience cognitive and behavioral changes, and slowing of the movements. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed – patient had multiple signal changes in T2 in cerebellar peduncles, corpus callosum, both cerebral hemispheres, which indicated ADEM. Patient received therapy with Methylprednisolone 1 g for 5 days. Patient had significant improvement already on the next day after initiation of immunosupressive therapy – increased level of consciousness, decresed rigidity and body temperature. Patient had 3 follow-ups with MRI, where was no evidence on disease progression. Conclusion: According to the literature, only a minority of ADEM cases are induced by immunization. But current publications` data with our presented case show, that COVID-19 vaccination may induce ADEM in adults as a potential complication. Although rare (only a few cases mentioned), it should be diagnosed as early as possible, as the mortality rate in ADEM patients is up to 12%.. .. .. .
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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