One patient sought care at an emergency room in central Sweden for mild infectious symptoms. Once there, she was tested for covid-19. A test response that turned out to be positive. The hospital felt that she was not so affected by the virus that she needed to be hospitalized and therefore the 55-year-old was sent home. Shortly thereafter, she was unconscious and was taken back to the hospital.

"She did not show any serious symptoms of the coronavirus in the form of lung problems or problems with other organs," says Elham Rostami, neurosurgeon at the Academic Hospital and researcher at Uppsala University.

Ambulance to Akademiska

An X-ray examination showed acute necrotizing encephalopathy, that is, inflammation of the brain. The patient was transported by ambulance to the Academic Hospital in Uppsala.

- The probability is high that it was covid-19 that triggered this disease, says Elham Rostami.

UNT was the first to report the unusual case.

"This is the second known case in the world where the corona virus is suspected to have caused the inflammation," says Elham Rostami.

Found traces of the virus in the spinal cord

The doctors found traces of the virus in the woman's spinal cord fluid, which reinforces the suspicion that covid-19 is the cause. Another factor that indicates this is that the woman responded well to the treatment she gave her.

- It is unclear whether the virus itself caused the disease or whether it is the inflammatory processes in the body that the virus created, which in turn led to this. It will be possible for future studies, ”says Elham Rostami.

The woman fought for her life and managed to survive. But her brain has sustained damage.