A case report of unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy and multiple cranial neuropathies following mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination

We report a rare case of ipsilateral multiple cranial neuropathy and ipsilateral lymphadenopathy following mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination.

A 41-year-old male visited our emergency room complaining of dysphagia and hoarseness that started a week after receiving COVID19 mRNA vaccination (in his right arm). During his hospitalization, he also complained of right side hearing loss and diplopia. Neurological examination depicted a right IV nerve palsy, ipsilateral facial paresthesia and peripheral facial paresis. Otorinolaryngological examination revealed right vocal cord paralysis. A brain magnetic resonance imaging showed enhancement of the right VII and VIII cranial nerves in the auditory canal. The lumbar puncture revealed increased protein concentration and lymphocytic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Additionally, a neck computed tomography (CT) scan showed a swollen right supraclavicular lymph node. We hypothesize that the ipsilateral cranial neuropathies of IV, VI, VII, VIII and X, associated with cervical lymphadenopathy, was possible caused by a post-vaccination immune-mediated reaction. The patient was treated with a 5-day course of intravenous methylprednisolone (1000 mg/day), and a gradual improvement was observed.

Similarly, to other vaccines, it is possibly that also mRNA vaccines may act as triggers of non-specific autoimmune neurological syndromes.