Vestibular Dysfunction Secondary to Reactivation of the Neurotropic Virus VZV After COVID-19: A Case Study

BACKGROUND The novel coronavirus COVID-19 infection, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. As of April 14, 2021, the virus has impacted the lives of over 138 million lives globally, with hundreds of thousands more impacted each day. COVID-19 has resulted in a multitude of clinical manifestations such as respiratory pathology, cardiovascular complications, and neurological dysfunction, and recent evidence points to potential changes in vestibular function secondary to COVID-19 infection. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 67-year-old female patient presenting with vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, aural dullness, dizziness, and imbalance following a diagnosis of shingles after contracting COVID-19. Results of a comprehensive balance evaluation were suggestive of a right peripheral vestibulopathy, otolith dysfunction, and a right-sided sensorineural hearing loss. The patient's subjective and objective data may support the claim that COVID-19 can lead to an increase in cases of vestibular dysfunction after reactivation of neurotropic viruses. CONCLUSIONS Our study and others suggest the possibility of vestibular deficits following the reactivation of VZV following a period of immunosuppression in conjunction with the lowered cell-mediated immunity caused by COVID-19. Additionally, vestibular interventions such as advanced vestibular treatment could be used to improve vestibular function in a linear manner.

[Nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis: its etiology and the predictive factors of acute kidney failure]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the causes of non traumatic or medical rhabdomyolysis (RM) and analyze the clinical and biologic characteristics, as well as the predictive factors of acute renal failure (ARF).

METHODS

Fifty-nine patients with RM admitted to the Internal Medicine Department over an 18-month period were prospectively studied. The patients were classified into etiologic groups. Anamnesis, physical exploration and general analytical studies including creatinkinase, myoglobin, aldolase, magnesium and proteinogram were performed. Urine sodium was determined in patients with ARF>

RESULTS

Myalgias in 14 patients (23.7%) and a decrease in strength in 11 patients (18.6%) were the main clinical manifestations observed. As a sole cause, convulsion was the most frequent manifestation in 11 patients (18.6%) followed by muscular compression in 10 patients (16.9%). In the plurietiologic group the most frequent manifestation was muscular compression in 5 patients (16.9%) followed by alcoholism in 4 patients (6.7%). No differences were found in either the clinical manifestation or the biology of the RM among the different etiologies. Eight patients presented ARF (13.5%) with one patient requiring dialysis, and good response being observed with conservative treatment in 5 patients. On multivariant analysis the statistically significant ARF predictive factors were: age over 70 years (p = 0.003), nonketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma (p = 0.01), previous dehydration (p = 0.001) and initial uric acid levels greater than or equal to 6 mg/dl (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical expression of rhabdomyolysis was small with the most frequent manifestations being convulsions and muscular compression. The predictive factors for acute renal failure were advanced age, nonketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma, dehydration, and hyperuricemia.