EEG Findings in Coronavirus Disease

J Clin Neurophysiol. 2022 Feb 1;39(2):159-165. doi: 10.1097/WNP.0000000000000752.

Abstract

Purpose: Neurologic manifestations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) such as encephalopathy and seizures have been described. To our knowledge, detailed EEG findings in COVID-19 have not yet been reported. This report adds to the scarce body of evidence.

Methods: We identified eight COVID-19 positive patients who underwent EEG monitoring in our hospital system.

Results: EEGs were most commonly ordered for an altered level of consciousness, a nonspecific neurologic manifestation. We observed generalized background slowing in all patients and generalized epileptiform discharges with triphasic morphology in three patients. Focal electrographic seizures were observed in one patient with a history of focal epilepsy and in another patient with no such history. Five of eight patients had a previous diagnosis of epilepsy, suggesting that pre-existing epilepsy can be a potential risk factor for COVID-19-associated neurological manifestations. Five of eight patients who underwent EEG experienced a fatal outcome of infection.

Conclusions: Our findings underscore previous observations that neurologic manifestations are common in severe cases. COVID-19 patients with epilepsy may have an increased risk of neurological manifestations and abnormal EEG.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsies, Partial*
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seizures / diagnosis
  • Seizures / etiology