Long-term neuroimaging follow-up of COVID-19-related leukoencephalopathy

Neuroradiology. 2021 Dec;63(12):2153-2156. doi: 10.1007/s00234-021-02829-1. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Abstract

More than a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly being reported. The long-term sequelae of COVID-19-related leukoencephalopathy, however, remain unclear. Here, we present long-term neuroimaging follow-up in two cases of COVID-19-related leukoencephalopathy. The two cases demonstrate the utility of brain MRI for evaluating neurologic symptoms in critically ill patients with COVID-19, for diagnosis of underlying neural injury and prognostication of future recovery. The presence of leukoencephalopathy may result in chronic neurologic manifestations and may represent a poor prognosticator of neurologic recovery. The presence of leukoencephalomalacia on follow-up neuroimaging is potentially an indicator of irreversible white matter damage, which may be associated with more severe chronic deficits.

Keywords: COVID-19; Chronic; Leukoencephalopathy; MRI; Neuroimaging.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leukoencephalopathies* / chemically induced
  • Leukoencephalopathies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neuroimaging
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2