This case report details a patient who was diagnosed with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated optic neuritis and myelitis and COVID-19.

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Study findings

The patient was a 26-year-old Hispanic man who presented with bilateral atypical optic neuritis and subsequently diagnosed with MOG-associated disease. He was worked up for other causes of bilateral atypical optic neuritis, and in addition was sent for a SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing as the patient had an associated progressive dry cough. The SARS-CoV-2 test came back positive.

This case highlights the importance of thinking beyond the obvious. Although this patient was found to have a picture in keeping with MOG-associated disease and an extra step of caution was taken due to the symptom of dry cough, this led to the associated diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 on top of the MOG-associated disease.