J Electrodiagn Neuromuscul Dis.  2021 Dec;23(3):94-98. 10.18214/jend.2021.00080.

Electrodiagnostic Follow-Up of COVID-19-Associated Critical Illness Polyneuropathy: A Case Report

• Choi K
• Kim M
• Lee SM
• Kim J

• KMID: 2526159
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18214/jend.2021.00080

Abstract

Neurologic complications have been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we report a case of post-COVID-19 critical illness polyneuropathy and describe the longitudinal follow-up. A 73-year-old woman presented with peripheral muscle weakness following COVID-19 pneumonia and mechanical ventilation for 16 days. Despite treatment, her fever persisted, and oxygen supplementation was continued. Blood cultures revealed Candida albicans infection, prompting antibiotic and antifungal therapy with oxygen supplementation. Two months later, the patient responded to treatment and was extubated. However, she exhibited peripheral muscle weakness. Nerve conduction studies showed peripheral polyneuropathy with axonal involvement, consistent with critical illness polyneuropathy. After 2 months of inpatient rehabilitation, the patient’s weakness and activity limitations improved. However, nerve conduction studies taken after 4.5 months showed persistent bilateral lower extremity axonal neuropathy. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first report of longitudinal follow-up with a functional evaluation of COVID-19-associated critical illness polyneuropathy.

Keyword

COVID-19; Electrodiagnosis; Polyneuropathies