COVID-19 leukoencephalopathy with subacute magnetic resonance imaging findings of vasculitis and demyelination

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) commonly results in a respiratory illness in symptomatic patients; however, those critically ill can develop a leukoencephalopathy. We describe two patients who had novel subacute MRI findings in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) leukoencephalopathy, which we hypothesize could implicate a potent small-vessel vasculitis, ischemic demyelination and the presence of prolonged ischemia. Recent evidence of the direct neuroinvasiness of SARS-CoV-2 leading to ischemia and vascular damage supports this hypothesis.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Demyelination; Leukoencephalopathy; MRI; SARS-CoV-2; Vasculitis.