Objective: We aimed to assess the symptoms and long-term symptoms in spinocerebellar ataxia 12 (SCA12) COVID-19 patients.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The outbreak of pandemic and long sessions of lockdown has negatively impacted the non covid patients. Predominantly, pulmonary diseases, about one third of the patients suffering with COVID-19 also manifest neurological symptoms. Some of the patients who have recovered from the condition in the acute-covid-19 timeline are reporting symptoms that last for months after recovery, i. e., long-term COVID-19 symptoms.

Method: We conducted an observational cohort study in 102 SCA12 patients.

Results: 29 (28%) patients suffered with COVID-19 disease (COVID-19-SCA12), 26 recovered within the first four weeks of onset of symptoms, while three died in the hospital. The most common symptoms those appeared in COVID-19-SCA12 patients were fever, cough and weakness. Only two patients reported post-covid-19 complications, a short term memory loss and a confused mental state. Majority of SCA12 patients have taken their vaccinations. Prolonged sessions of home confinement has disrupted the rehabilitation sessions of the SCA12 patients leading to worsening of ataxic symptoms such as gait, tremor and slurring of speech.

Conclusion: Our study highlights that COVID-19-SCA12 patients do not manifest a more severe course of symptoms related to the COVID-19 infection. The drawback of the study was we were unable to identify the medication regimens of the infected patients. A longitudinal follow-up with larger cohort from different ethnicities is required to develop management strategies for COVID-19 and post COVID-19 syndrome in SCA12 and other forms of SCAs.

References: Leta V, Rodríguez-Violante M, Abundes A, Rukavina K, Teo JT, Falup-Pecurariu C, Irincu L, Rota S, Bhidayasiri R, Storch A, Odin P, Antonini A, Ray Chaudhuri K. Parkinson’s Disease and Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: The Parkinson’s Long-COVID Spectrum. Mov Disord. 2021 Jun;36(6):1287-1289. doi: 10.1002/mds.28622.
Srivastava AK, Takkar A, Garg A, Faruq M. Clinical behaviour of spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 and intermediate length abnormal CAG repeats inPPP2R2B. Brain. 2017 Jan; 140(1):27-36.

« Back to 2022 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sars-cov-2-infection-and-spinocerebellar-ataxia-12-demographics-outcomes-and-post-covid-spectrum/