Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) has been prescribed increasingly for treatment of COVID-19. Due to ritonavir's inhibition of CYP3A4, there are many medication interactions to consider. In this case, a 63-year-old woman recently treated with Paxlovid presented with symptoms mimicking previous...

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Main Authors: Katharine Rosiene, Minisha Lohani, Mario Gemmato-Valecillos, Cristina Marti-Amarista, Sadia Abbasi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American College of Physicians 2023-12-01
Series:Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
Online Access:https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.0872
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author Katharine Rosiene
Minisha Lohani
Mario Gemmato-Valecillos
Cristina Marti-Amarista
Sadia Abbasi
author_facet Katharine Rosiene
Minisha Lohani
Mario Gemmato-Valecillos
Cristina Marti-Amarista
Sadia Abbasi
author_sort Katharine Rosiene
collection DOAJ
description Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) has been prescribed increasingly for treatment of COVID-19. Due to ritonavir's inhibition of CYP3A4, there are many medication interactions to consider. In this case, a 63-year-old woman recently treated with Paxlovid presented with symptoms mimicking previous episodes of lupus cerebritis. Imaging, however, revealed a pattern more consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. When Paxlovid therapy was initiated in the ambulatory setting, her amlodipine dose was decreased due to concern for interactions. Since Paxlovid is recommended for patients with high risk for progression to severe illness, this poses a unique challenge, especially in older patients with multiple comorbid conditions.
format Article
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issn 2767-7664
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publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher American College of Physicians
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series Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
spelling doaj-art-47b3a39b75084f0a9242f63cddd71ff12025-08-20T02:27:23ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642023-12-0121210.7326/aimcc.2023.0872Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid EraKatharine Rosiene0Minisha Lohani1Mario Gemmato-Valecillos2Cristina Marti-Amarista3Sadia Abbasi41Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York1Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York2Catedra Rectoral de Medicina Basada en la Evidencia, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela1Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York1Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New YorkNirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) has been prescribed increasingly for treatment of COVID-19. Due to ritonavir's inhibition of CYP3A4, there are many medication interactions to consider. In this case, a 63-year-old woman recently treated with Paxlovid presented with symptoms mimicking previous episodes of lupus cerebritis. Imaging, however, revealed a pattern more consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. When Paxlovid therapy was initiated in the ambulatory setting, her amlodipine dose was decreased due to concern for interactions. Since Paxlovid is recommended for patients with high risk for progression to severe illness, this poses a unique challenge, especially in older patients with multiple comorbid conditions.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.0872
spellingShingle Katharine Rosiene
Minisha Lohani
Mario Gemmato-Valecillos
Cristina Marti-Amarista
Sadia Abbasi
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
title Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
title_full Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
title_fullStr Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
title_full_unstemmed Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
title_short Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in an Older Patient in the COVID-19 and Paxlovid Era
title_sort posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an older patient in the covid 19 and paxlovid era
url https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.0872
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