Treatment of COVID-19-induced refractory status epilepticus by tocilizumab


Kizilkilic E. K., UNKUN R., UYGUNOĞLU U., Delil S., ÖZKARA Ç.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, cilt.29, sa.9, ss.2861-2863, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 29 Sayı: 9
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/ene.15440
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.2861-2863
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19 infection, status epilepticus, tocilizumab, Unverricht-Lundborg disease
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background and purpose COVID-19 is a novel infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in which neurological complications have been increasingly recognized. Acute symptomatic epileptic seizures and status epilepticus are frequently reported neurological complications associated with this infection. The nervous system damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 may be mediated by the immune system. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), an important component of the cytokine storm, is directly correlated with the severity of symptoms. Tocilizumab is an inhibitor of IL-6 receptors, which blocks IL-6-mediated signal transduction and is used in the treatment of COVID-19 and status epilepticus. Case report A patient with the Unverricht-Lundborg disease is presented who had developed refractory recurrent status epilepticus during COVID-19 infection, which was finally controlled by treatment with tocilizumab. Discussion Tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor, may be considered as a treatment option in patients with status epilepticus and refractory seizures.