Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures following COVID-19 vaccine: A report of two cases in Colombia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31157/an.v27i4.389

Keywords:

Vaccination, psychogenic non epileptiform seizures, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pandemic, post-vaccine events.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused the death of more than 5 million of people worldwide. Vaccination is the best strategy for controlling the pandemic with an estimated of more that 4 million of people completely vaccinated. The reported adverse events secondary to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are mainly mild and moderate, however, there are raising concerns about more severe and long-term outcomes, as well as neurological complications due to the vaccine.

We present two cases of psychogenic non epileptiform seizures (PNES) in Colombian female patients, following vaccination against Covid-19. There is no evidence of similar adverse reactions reported on the literature and thus, we decided to report these events in order to help clinicians in recognizing early and properly all the possible neurological manifestations related to this novel approach, that aimes to eradicate the viruses which has come along with worldwide devastating consequences in terms of health and social issues.

Author Biographies

Julio Cesar Villalobos-Comas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Liga Cordobesa contra la Epilepsia, Córdoba, Colombia

ORCID: 0000-0002-9200-2518

Edgard Eliud Castillo-Támara, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Director of Neurology program, Universidad del Sinú “Elías Bechara Zainum”, Cartagena Colombia

ORCID: 0000-0001-8084-8586

References

Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The Lancet. febrero de 2020;395(10223):497-506.

Spikevax F. SUMMARY OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION PROVIDERS. :35. Healthcare Providers for 12 years of age and older, purple cap (must dilute) 01312022.pdf.

download.pdf [Internet]. [citado 27 de febrero de 2022]. Disponible en: https://www.fda.gov/media/146304/download

Jackson LA, Anderson EJ, Rouphael NG, Roberts PC, Makhene M, Coler RN, et al. An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 — Preliminary Report. N Engl J Med. 14 de julio de 2020;NEJMoa2022483.

Goss AL, Samudralwar RD, Das RR, Nath A. ANA Investigates: Neurological Complications of COVID ‐19 Vaccines. Ann Neurol. mayo de 2021;89(5):856-7.

Aladdin Y, Shirah B. New-onset refractory status epilepticus following the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. J Neuroimmunol. agosto de 2021;357:577629.

Ghosh R, Dubey S, Roy D, Mandal A, Naga D, Benito-León J. Focal onset non-motor seizure following COVID-19 vaccination: A mere coincidence? Diabetes Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev. mayo de 2021;15(3):1023-4.

Fasano A, Daniele A. Functional disorders after COVID-19 vaccine fuel vaccination hesitancy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. marzo de 2022;93(3):339-40.

Vacunación contra COVID-19 [Internet]. [citado 7 de marzo de 2022]. Disponible en: https://www.minsalud.gov.co/salud/publica/Vacunacion/Paginas/Vacunacion-covid-19.aspx

Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals [Internet]. [citado 7 de marzo de 2022]. Disponible en: https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals

Background document on the inactivated vaccine Sinovac-CoronaVac against COVID-19 [Internet].

[citado 7 de marzo de 2022]. Disponible en: https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-2019-nCoV-vaccines-SAGE_recommendation-Sinovac-CoronaVac-background-2021.1

Espay AJ, Aybek S, Carson A, Edwards MJ, Goldstein LH, Hallett M, et al. Current Concepts in Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Neurological Disorders. JAMA Neurol. 1 de septiembre de 2018;75(9):1132.

Chen DK, Sharma E, LaFrance WC. Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. septiembre de 2017;17(9):71.

Reuber M, Jamnadas‐Khoda J, Broadhurst M, Grunewald R, Howell S, Koepp M, et al. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure manifestations reported by patients and witnesses. Epilepsia. 2011;52(11):2028-35.

Published

2022-09-17

How to Cite

Villalobos-Comas, J. C., Castillo-Támara, E. E., Montaño Lozada, J. M., & Cardona Moica, S. M. (2022). Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures following COVID-19 vaccine: A report of two cases in Colombia. Archivos De Neurociencias, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.31157/an.v27i4.389

Issue

Section

Case report