A rare case of Hashimoto encephalopathy after COVID vaccination Hashimoto Encephalopathy Coronavirus Disease COVID Neurology Brain Hosp_MServetEII
Letter to the Editor - Hashimoto encephalopathy after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Image Credit: DOERS / Shutterstock
Under their emergency use authorization , 11 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide. Although the occurrence of Hashimoto encephalopathy is rare post-vaccination, there is a possibility that the COVID-19 vaccination triggers it. In addition, several post-vaccination encephalitis cases have been reported in recipients of COVID-19 vaccines, both mRNA and viral vector-based.
The patient had a history of autoimmune hypothyroidism but no psychiatric disorder. He received the first Spikevax vaccine dose in July 2021 and its second dose 28 days later. Within 24 hours of receiving the second vaccine, he experienced self-limited febrile syndrome and mild postural tremors. Six days later, he presented a first focal seizure in the left hemisphere, progressing to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure and convulsive status epilepticus.
The patient suffered from a second episode of toni-clonic seizure in November 2021 and was again admitted to the ICU. Apart from increased postural tremor, gait impairment, and memory deficit . The doctors prescribed a short course of methylprednisolone.