OBJECTIVE:To report a case of a patient infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who acutely developed a hypokinetic-rigid syndrome.METHODS:Patient data were obtained from medical records from the “Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre” in Madrid, Spain. [123I]-ioflupane dopamine transporter single-photon emission CT (DaT-SPECT) images were acquired 4 hours after a single dose of 185 MBq of 123I-FP-CIT. Quantitative analysis was performed using DaTQUANTTM software providing the specific binding ratio (SBR) and z-score values of the striatum.RESULTS:We report a previously healthy 58-year-old man who developed hyposmia, generalized myoclonus, fluctuating and transient changes in level of consciousness, opsoclonus and an asymmetric hypokinetic-rigid syndrome with ocular abnormalities after a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. DaT-SPECT confirmed a bilateral decrease in presynaptic dopamine uptake asymmetrically involving both putamina. Significant improvement in the parkinsonian symptoms was observed without any specific treatment.CONCLUSION:This case study provides clinical and functional neuroimaging evidence to support that SARS-CoV-2 can gain access to the central nervous system, affecting midbrain structures and leading to neurological signs and symptoms.
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