Augensymptome bei Cerebellitis durch COVID-19: Cerebellitis, eine wenig beachtete Krankheit mit neuroophthalmologischen Befunden

The disease pattern of acute cerebellitis has been increasingly noticed in recent years. Two different courses had been observed. A mild form with slight ataxic disorders (as a postinfectious self-limiting disease) and a fulminant course of cerebellitis with cerebellar swelling, which compresses Sylviusʼ aqueduct, leading to an increased intracranial pressure with an obstructive hydrocephalus, and downward herniation of the cerebellar tonsils in the foramen magnum. In this case the course can be fatal if neurosurgical emergency treatment comes too late. Cerebellitis has been observed as a sequela to a virus infection and by autoimmune-mediated inflammation. Numerous publications were concerned with childhood cerebellitis but less commonly in adults. Neuro-ophthalmological findings were frequently described as nystagmus (horizontal gaze-evoked nystagmus, vertical nystagmus, downbeat nystagmus, periodic alternating nystagmus), papilledema, more rarely paresis of the abducens or facial nerve, photophobia and very rarely an opsoclonous-myoclonous syndrome. Cerebellitis with neuro-ophthalmological findings has repeatedly been described in adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.