Abstract :
Background: Various neurological manifestations, including Acute Ishcemic stroke (AIS) has been described in association with SARS-CoV2 infection.
Materials and Methods: In a government-regulated tertiary care center of COVID 19, we did a retrospective analysis and found 7 patients of AIS in 4 months duration.
Results: All patients were more than 50 yrs of age, were in moderate to severe COVID19 category and had pre-existing stroke risk factors. Four out of 7 patients developed stroke 7-10 days after onset of COVID19 symptoms. (Range 2-17 days). 71.4 % (5/7) had large artery ischemic stroke; two had multiple arterial territory involvement and two developed hemorrhagic transformations. Every patient had elevated levels of one or more inflammatory and/or prothrombotic biomarkers. The prognosis was poor, in terms of high mortality and morbidity.
Conclusion: Stroke mechanism in COVID19 may be multifaceted, varying from traditional atherosclerotic risk factors to large vessel thrombosis, embolism, prothrombotic state, coagulopathy, and/or vasculopathy.
Key message: More than one mechanism may operate in AIS with Covid19 infection and similar observation studies in heterogeneous populations will guide us to understand the disease process better and its therapeutic strategies.
Keyword :
Acute ischemic stroke, Covid19, Stroke mechanism, Prothrombotic state.