Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome due to COVID-19

During the late 2019, a group of patients had unexplained chest infections in Wuhan which turned out to be the new pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). New neurological symptoms have been reported in COVID-19 patients. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a new neurological finding and is associated or caused by COVID-19.

A 32-year-old lady, with no medical background had COVID-19 infection and needed mechanical ventilation. After surviving the intensive care, she started to have multiple seizures that required general anesthesia to be aborted. The patient turned out to have PRES.

PRES is a neurological syndrome causing seizures, headaches, and blurred vision. It is usually associated with high blood pressure, renal failure, and other risk factors. The patient in this case had nearly normal blood pressure, but still had a diagnosis of PRES. The new reported neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection need further research and attention from the academic society to predict and prevent the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 patients.