EEG Characteristics in COVID-19 Survivors and Non-survivors With Seizures and Encephalopathy.

• Authors: Bhanu Gogia, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.; Neeharika Thottempudi, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.; Yousaf Ajam, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA.; Ayush Singh, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.; Tamer Ghanayem, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.; Alok Dabi, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.; Xiang Fang, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.; Todd Masel, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.; Prashant Rai, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, USA.
• Journal Title: Cureus
• Volume: Volume 13, Number 10
• Publisher: (publisher) | 2021-10, Pages e18476-e18476
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18476
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery
• Keywords: covid-19 and eeg findings; covid-19 and seizures; encephalopathy and covid-19; neurological manifestations in covid-19; status epilepticus in covid-19

Abstract

The objective of this study is to report EEG findings in both COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors who underwent EEG either due to seizure or encephalopathy. Out of total 1468 COVID-19-positive patients, 19 patients underwent EEG. Eight out of 19 patients had a history of seizure disorder and in the remaining 11 with no prior history of seizures, four had a clinical seizure during their hospital stay. Only one had new-onset complex focal status epilepticus on EEG. Amongst the survivors (13/19), the most common EEG findings were normal followed by mild diffuse slowing. Amongst the non-survivors (6/19), the most common EEG finding was moderate to severe slowing in 50% of the patients. It can be deduced that COVID-19 infection does not increase the propensity of epileptiform discharges on EEG. There is perhaps a trend towards increased risk of new-onset status epilepticus in patients with encephalopathy and focal lesions.