A Case Report of an Atypical Neurological Presentation of COVID-19 in Pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mostly have flu-like symptoms. However, neurologic manifestations are common and may be the early findings of COVID-19. Data for COVID-19 do not indicate an increased risk of infection in pregnant individuals, but the risk of disease severity and mortality is high in this patient population. We report a case of a pregnant woman in the 10th gestational week, who presented with neurological symptoms of sudden impairment in walking, balance, speech, and consciousness, started the night before, and a seven-day history of fever, chills, myalgia, and general weakness before admission. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was positive for the cerebrospinal fluid sample a day before the positive nasopharyngeal sample. Axial brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed the involvement of the spinothalamic tract. Following treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient's neurological condition gradually recovered, except for lower limb muscle strength, and she was discharged from the hospital on the 10th day of admission. This case is unique as it emphasizes the importance of considering COVID-19 when uncommon neurologic manifestations with negative nasopharyngeal PCR are present.Copyright © 2023, Author(s).