Letter to the Editor regarding “Cranial neuropathy during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a case report” - Journal of Medical Case Reports Journal of Medical Case Reports -

Cranial neuropathy in COVID-19 remains diagnostically complex—viral, immune, or microvascular? This JMCR Letter highlights key clinical uncertainty and interpretation challenges.

🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s132...

#Neurology #COVID19 #JMCR #NeuroCOVID

Cranial neuropathy during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: a case report - Journal of Medical Case Reports Background Cranial neuropathy has been reported in association with coronavirus disease 2019. Multiple reports have highlighted the possibility of Miller Fisher syndrome as a delayed immune-mediated response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. However, cranial neuropathy during the infectious phase of coronavirus disease 2019 with positive cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction has not been reported to date. Case presentation We report a 53-year-old Iranian woman who presented with right ptosis, diplopia, and headache without any respiratory symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019. Further evaluations revealed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS CoV) 2 in the patient’s nasopharyngeal sample and cerebrospinal fluid. The patient’s neurological symptoms improved after treatment with remdesivir and corticosteroids. Conclusion We suggest that cranial nerve-related symptoms can occur in the context of acute severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection via direct viral invasion and secondary immune-mediated injury following primary infection. Clinicians should consider coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with symptoms related to cranial nerve involvement, even without systemic or respiratory symptoms of this viral infection.

🧠 Not all COVID-19 presents with respiratory symptoms.

Journal of Medical Case Reports: Isolated cranial neuropathy (ptosis, diplopia, trigeminal sensory loss) with SARS-CoV-2 detected in CSF—suggesting possible direct neuroinvasion.

DOI: 10.1186/s13256-025-05710-4
doi.org/10.1186/s132...

Bilateral functional hippocampectomy following recurrent bacterial meningitis: a case report - Journal of Medical Case Reports Background The hippocampal formation is indispensable to convert short-term into long-term memories. It is a brain region particularly vulnerable to a variety of noxious stimuli. Severe hippocampal injury with complete inability to convert short-term into long-term memories is very rare in bacterial meningitis. Case presentation At the age of 62 years, a white German female teacher acquired Listeria monocytogenes meningitis after the consumption of goat cheese manufactured from raw milk. Malabsorptive hydrocephalus required placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The further course became complicated by two shunt infections. Severe bilateral hippocampal atrophy developed. In spite of restoration of CSF drainage via a replacement shunt, the patient lost the capacity to form new memories. Conversely, her personality and the ability to work with previously stored information remained intact for many years. Conclusions Protection of the hippocampal formation and preservation of the capacity to form new memories is a major goal in the treatment of bacterial meningitis. Further improvement of outcome in bacterial meningitis will depend on approaches that effectively protect the hippocampal formation.

🧠 Bacterial meningitis can erase the ability to form new memories.

A JMCR case shows “functional hippocampectomy” after recurrent infection—profound anterograde amnesia with preserved cognition.

A rare window into human memory circuitry.

🔗 doi.org/10.1186/s132...

New in Journal of Medical Case Reports: SSRI-induced bruxism presenting within 10 days of sertraline initiation, resolving after discontinuation and adjunctive buspirone—highlighting serotonergic–dopaminergic imbalance.

Article: jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

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Psychiatric and seizure symptoms can be the tip of the iceberg in autoimmune encephalitis.

This 2026 JMCR case highlights rare anti-recoverin antibody–associated limbic encephalitis and the value of CSF antibody testing.