Abstract Details

Title Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis after COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

Topic Autoimmune Neurology

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 9-004

Background NA

Objective To report a case of a patient who developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in the setting of recent COVID-19 vaccination.

Design/Methods Data was obtained through the medical records system of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York.

Results We report on a 53-year-old female patient with a past medical history of obstructive sleep apnea who presented in the emergency room (ER) with left-sided numbness and weakness, ataxia, vertigo, and slurred speech in the context of a three month long history of headaches that started one day after she received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Brain imaging studies showed findings most suggestive of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Initial pre-treatment cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed markedly elevated protein with normal glucose level. Extensive workup was negative for infectious, oncologic, autoimmune, and psychiatric etiologies. Over the course of hospitalization, the patient was found to have isolated elevated liver function tests (LFTs) with transaminitis and hepatomegaly on ultrasound. The initial treatment of a five-day methylprednisolone course did not result in significant clinical improvement. The patient was then started on plasma exchange therapy (PLEX) and successfully recovered by the end of the last session.

Conclusions

Our case report exemplifies a rare but severe neurologic condition observed in the setting of recent COVID-19 vaccination in a previously healthy woman.

Authors/Disclosures
Monica He PRESENTER	Miss He has nothing to disclose.
Christopher J. Bondoc, MD (True North Neurology)	Dr. Bondoc has nothing to disclose.
Robert Fekete, MD	Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Acorda, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Abbvie. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Teva Neuroscience, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Acadia Pharmaceutical, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Kyowa Kirin, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Adamas Pharmaceutical, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Sunovion, Inc.. Dr. Fekete has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Medlink, Inc.. The institution of Dr. Fekete has received research support from Lundbeck. Dr. Fekete has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Fekete has a non-compensated relationship as a Neurological Working Group Member with Alliance for Patient Access that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.