COVID-19-Associated Cytotoxic Lesions of the Corpus Callosum in Chinese Patients: A Retrospective Study.
Brain and behavior June 1, 2025 Chenyi Wan, Menghua Li, Yanyan Yu et al.
Cytotoxic lesions of the corpus callosum (CLOCCs) are a rare brain condition that can occur with COVID-19. Among eight patients with confirmed COVID-19 who had brain MRIs, most had fever before neurological symptoms appeared. Neurological findings included altered consciousness, headache, cognitive and behavioral disturbances, ataxia, dysarthria, pyramidal signs, and visual impairments. Blood markers of inflammation and cell damage changed with disease progression. One patient had elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein. Treatment with glucocorticoids and antivirals led to complete recovery, and follow-up MRIs in seven patients showed radiological improvement within days to weeks. The condition has a favorable prognosis and distinct MRI features, emphasizing the need to consider CLOCCs in COVID-19 patients.