Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection

We report a patient with autonomic dysfunction following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, presenting progressively worsening severe orthostatic hypotension to the point where she could no longer sit or stand. The patient experienced a delay in diagnosis after an initial misdiagnosis of a functional neuro...

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Main Authors: Kenji Theiler, Maroussia Bronchain, Eric Grouzmann, Serge Duflon, Lorenz Hirt, Renaud Du Pasquier, Gérard Waeber, Grégoire Wuerzner, Karin Diserens, Julien F. Bally
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1505727/full
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author Kenji Theiler
Maroussia Bronchain
Eric Grouzmann
Serge Duflon
Lorenz Hirt
Renaud Du Pasquier
Gérard Waeber
Grégoire Wuerzner
Karin Diserens
Julien F. Bally
author_facet Kenji Theiler
Maroussia Bronchain
Eric Grouzmann
Serge Duflon
Lorenz Hirt
Renaud Du Pasquier
Gérard Waeber
Grégoire Wuerzner
Karin Diserens
Julien F. Bally
author_sort Kenji Theiler
collection DOAJ
description We report a patient with autonomic dysfunction following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, presenting progressively worsening severe orthostatic hypotension to the point where she could no longer sit or stand. The patient experienced a delay in diagnosis after an initial misdiagnosis of a functional neurological disorder. Persistent orthostatic symptoms prompted us to re-examine the diagnosis and explore other diagnostic tools, which ultimately allowed us to identify and treat severe immune-mediated orthostatic hypotension (OH). We identified autoantibodies (AAB) targeting the autonomic nervous system. Intravascular immunoglobulin therapy, along with early, specific multi-disciplinary rehabilitation, completely resolved the symptoms. Hard-to-assess patients are often penalized by suboptimal care due to the lack of a comprehensive patient history and physical examination, resulting in unnecessary and costly ancillary examinations that lead to delays in diagnosis or misdiagnoses. Furthermore, a lack of awareness of rare complications with new diseases may also hamper proper patient care. In the present case, this includes the wide range of SARS-CoV-2 infection manifestations, including immune-mediated autonomic complications.
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spelling doaj-art-e799ecc7bfc14c08992978ef933187dd2025-08-20T01:48:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-01-011810.3389/fnins.2024.15057271505727Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infectionKenji Theiler0Maroussia Bronchain1Eric Grouzmann2Serge Duflon3Lorenz Hirt4Renaud Du Pasquier5Gérard Waeber6Grégoire Wuerzner7Karin Diserens8Julien F. Bally9Service of Nephrology and Hypertension, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Neurology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Catecholamines and Peptides, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Neurology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Neurology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Neurology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandDepartment of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Nephrology and Hypertension, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandAcute Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandService of Neurology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandWe report a patient with autonomic dysfunction following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, presenting progressively worsening severe orthostatic hypotension to the point where she could no longer sit or stand. The patient experienced a delay in diagnosis after an initial misdiagnosis of a functional neurological disorder. Persistent orthostatic symptoms prompted us to re-examine the diagnosis and explore other diagnostic tools, which ultimately allowed us to identify and treat severe immune-mediated orthostatic hypotension (OH). We identified autoantibodies (AAB) targeting the autonomic nervous system. Intravascular immunoglobulin therapy, along with early, specific multi-disciplinary rehabilitation, completely resolved the symptoms. Hard-to-assess patients are often penalized by suboptimal care due to the lack of a comprehensive patient history and physical examination, resulting in unnecessary and costly ancillary examinations that lead to delays in diagnosis or misdiagnoses. Furthermore, a lack of awareness of rare complications with new diseases may also hamper proper patient care. In the present case, this includes the wide range of SARS-CoV-2 infection manifestations, including immune-mediated autonomic complications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1505727/fullautoantibodiesCOVID-19orthostatic hypotensionintravascular immunoglobulin therapydysautonomiarehabilitation
spellingShingle Kenji Theiler
Maroussia Bronchain
Eric Grouzmann
Serge Duflon
Lorenz Hirt
Renaud Du Pasquier
Gérard Waeber
Grégoire Wuerzner
Karin Diserens
Julien F. Bally
Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
Frontiers in Neuroscience
autoantibodies
COVID-19
orthostatic hypotension
intravascular immunoglobulin therapy
dysautonomia
rehabilitation
title Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
title_full Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
title_fullStr Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
title_full_unstemmed Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
title_short Case report: Treatable immune-mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in SARS-CoV-2 infection
title_sort case report treatable immune mediated severe orthostatic hypotension in sars cov 2 infection
topic autoantibodies
COVID-19
orthostatic hypotension
intravascular immunoglobulin therapy
dysautonomia
rehabilitation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1505727/full
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