Background and Purpose Reports have suggested that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes neurologic manifestations including encephalopathy and seizures. However, there has been relatively limited electrophysiology data to contextualize these specific concerns and to understand their associated clinical factors. Our objective was to identify EEG abnormalities present in patients with SARS-CoV-2, and to determine whether they reflect new or preexisting brain pathology. Methods We studied a consecutive series of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 who received an EEG, obtained using tailored safety protocols. Data from EEG reports and clinical records were analyzed to identify EEG abnormalities and possible clinical associations, including neurologic symptoms, new or preexisting brain pathology, and sedation practices. Results We identified 37 patients with SARS-CoV-2 who underwent EEG, of whom 14 had epileptiform findings (38%). Patients with epileptiform findings were more likely to have preexisting brain pathology (6/14, 43%) than patients without epileptiform findings (2/23, 9%; p=0.042). There were no clear differences in rates of acute brain pathology. One case of nonconvulsive status epilepticus was captured, but was not clearly a direct consequence of SARS-CoV-2. Abnormalities of background rhythms were common, and patients recently sedated were more likely to lack a posterior dominant rhythm (p=0.022). Conclusions Epileptiform abnormalities were common in patients with SARS-CoV-2 referred for EEG, but particularly in the context of preexisting brain pathology and sedation. These findings suggest that neurologic manifestations during SARS-CoV-2 infection may not solely relate to the infection itself, but rather may also reflect patients' broader, preexisting neurologic vulnerabilities.

中文翻译：

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冠状病毒 SARS-CoV-2 住院患者的临床脑电图检查结果和注意事项。

背景和目的报告表明，严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 会导致神经系统表现，包括脑病和癫痫发作。然而，电生理学数据相对有限，无法将这些具体问题联系起来并了解其相关的临床因素。我们的目标是识别 SARS-CoV-2 患者的脑电图异常，并确定它们是否反映了新的或先前存在的脑部病变。方法 我们研究了一系列接受脑电图的 SARS-CoV-2 住院患者，这些患者使用量身定制的安全方案获得脑电图。分析来自脑电图报告和临床记录的数据，以识别脑电图异常和可能的临床关联，包括神经系统症状、新的或先前存在的脑部病理学和镇静实践。结果 我们确定了 37 名接受脑电图检查的 SARS-CoV-2 患者，其中 14 人有癫痫样表现（38%）。与没有癫痫样表现的患者（2/23, 9%；p=0.042）相比，有癫痫样表现的患者（6/14, 43%）更可能有预先存在的脑部病变。急性脑病理学发生率没有明显差异。捕获了 1 例非惊厥性癫痫持续状态病例，但显然不是 SARS-CoV-2 的直接后果。背景节律异常很常见，最近镇静的患者更可能缺乏后主导节律（p = 0.022）。结论 癫痫样异常在转诊脑电图的 SARS-CoV-2 患者中很常见，尤其是在预先存在脑部病变和镇静的情况下。