Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome Presenting After COVID-19 Vaccination

Cureus. 2021 Jul 31;13(7):e16791. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16791. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with a plethora of neurological complications. Newly developed vaccinations targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral spike protein represent a great epidemiological promise with respect to the resolution of the pandemic. However, vaccinations are not without side effects and, in rare cases, have even been implicated in various autoimmune phenomena. In this report, we describe a case of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS), a granulomatous inflammatory process of the cavernous sinus, occurring in a patient one week after getting COVID-19 vaccination. This rare diagnosis of exclusion must be considered in patients presenting with painful ophthalmoplegia.

Keywords: autoimmune neurology; covid-19; covid-19 vaccine; headache; headache disorders; neuro-immunology; neuro-ophthalmology; neuroinflammation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports