Anti-MOG Positive Bilateral Optic Neuritis and Brainstem Encephalitis Secondary to COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report

• Published in: Neurology international Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 991 - 996
• Main Authors: Tsouris, Zisis, Provatas, Antonios, Bakirtzis, Christos, Aloizou, Athina-Maria, Siokas, Vasileios, Tsimourtou, Vana, Grigoriadis, Nikolaos, Hadjigeorgiou, Georgios M, Dardiotis, Efthimios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30-11-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Anti-MOG; Antibodies; Asymptomatic; Bacterial infections; brainstem encephalitis; Case Report; Case reports; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Disease; Encephalitis; Fever; Glycoproteins; Herpes viruses; Immunoglobulins; Informed consent; Nervous system; optic neuritis; Patients; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Streptococcus infections; Viral infections; Visual acuity; West Nile virus; COVID-19; case report; Anti-MOG; brainstem encephalitis; optic neuritis
• ISSN: 2035-8385; 2035-8377; 2035-8377
• DOI: 10.3390/neurolint14040078

(1) Introduction: There have been numerous reports on the neuroinvasive competence of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we present a case with anti-MOG positive bilateral optic neuritis and brainstem encephalitis secondary to COVID-19 infection. Additionally, we present a review of the current literature regarding the manifestation of anti-MOG positive optic neuritis as well as anti-MOG positive encephalitis after COVID-19 infection. (2) Case Report: A 59-year-old female patient, with a recent history of COVID-19 infection, presented a progressive reduction of visual acuity and bilateral retrobulbar pain for the last 20 days. An ophthalmological examination revealed a decreased visual acuity (counting fingers) and a bilateral papilledema. An MRI scan of the brain revealed a mild thickening of the bilateral optic nerves and high-intensity lesions in the medial and right lateral pons. A high titer of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in serum and antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG) in serum and CSF were revealed. The diagnosis of anti-MOG brainstem encephalitis and optic neuritis was set. (3) Conclusions: The history of COVID-19 infection should raise awareness about these autoimmune and infection-triggered diseases, such as anti-MOG antibody disease.