Clinical short communication
Abnormal movements in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A case series

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.117377Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Abnormal movements in hospitalized COVID-19 patients range in etiology.

  • Myoclonus is the most frequent abnormal movement in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

  • Bedside neurologic consultation is essential to the evaluation of COVID-19 patients.

Abstract

Background

Abnormal movements in Covid-19 patients have been reported with varying degree of frequency, prompting neurologic consultation and additional diagnostic evaluation. We sought to evaluate the frequency and etiology of abnormal movements among hospitalized Covid-19 patients undergoing neurologic consultation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the first 50 consecutive patients with confirmed Covid-19 hospitalized at our tertiary medical care center who underwent acute inpatient neurology consultation from March 2020 through May 2020. Indication for neurologic consultation and diagnostic studies performed were identified by electronic medical record review.

Results

Of the 50 initial consultation requests, 11 (22.0%) patients were evaluated for abnormal movements (nine male and two female). Myoclonus was diagnosed in 6/11 (54.5%) patients. Additionally, two patients were diagnosed with seizures (confirmed on EEG in one), while two additional patients were diagnosed with tremor (physiologic and probable functional). A single case of serotonin syndrome was also identified.

Conclusion

Abnormal movements observed in hospitalized Covid-19 patients can have a wide range of etiologies and were a frequent initial indication for neurologic consultation. Myoclonus was the most frequent type of abnormal movement observed. Early clinical recognition and directed diagnostic work-up is essential for accurate diagnoses in these patients.

Keywords

COVID-19
Movement disorder
Myoclonus
Tremor
Seizure
Serotonin syndrome

Cited by (0)

1

JRC and EML are joint first authors and contributed equally to this manuscript.

View Abstract