Transient global amnesia and Covid-19

KeywordsDear Editor,We read with interest the letter on “Potentials to alleviate coagulopathy and enhance microglial function of beta (β)- glucans, making them worth a clinical study for COVID-19's neurological sequalae” by Raghavan et al., recently published online in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences [Raghavan K. Kandaswamy R.S. Ikewaki N. et al.Potentials to alleviate coagulopathy and enhance microglial function of beta (β)- glucans, making themworth a clinical study for COVID-19's neurological sequalae.].The authors cited our article “Increased incidence of transient global amnesia during the Covid-19 crisis?” [Werner R. Keller M. Woehrle J.C. Increased incidence of transient global amnesia during the Covid-19 crisis?.], but their statement “Werner et al. … have reported yet another neurological sequala, incidence of transient global amnesia during the Covid-19 hypothesizing the mechanism to be an encephalitic autoimmune pathology by the SARS CoV2 virus.” is not correct.

Indeed, we found an increased incidence of transient global amnesia (TGA) during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, but none of our patients was tested positive for SARS-CoV.

Our conclusion was that social distancing during the lockdown, uncertainty concerning the future and not least the fear of getting infected increased the stress level in the community which might trigger TGA. Therefore, we did not assume that the virus itself causes TGA by an encephalitic autoimmune pathology or direct invasion of the CNS.

Declarations of interest

None.

ReferencesRaghavan K. Kandaswamy R.S. Ikewaki N. et al.

Potentials to alleviate coagulopathy and enhance microglial function of beta (β)- glucans, making themworth a clinical study for COVID-19's neurological sequalae.

J. Neurol. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.117554Werner R. Keller M. Woehrle J.C.

Increased incidence of transient global amnesia during the Covid-19 crisis?.

Neurol. Res. Pract. 2: 26https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00077-xArticle InfoPublication History

Accepted: June 30, 2021

Received: June 25, 2021

Publication stageIn Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.117562

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© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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