ABSTRACT
Arterial thrombotic events in younger patients without a readily apparent etiology present significant diagnostic and management challenges. We present a structured approach to diagnosis with consideration of common causes, including atherosclerosis and embolism, as well as uncommon causes, including medications and substances, vascular and anatomic abnormalities, systemic disorders, and thrombophilias. We highlight areas of management that have evolved within the past 5 years, including the use of dual-pathway inhibition in atherosclerotic disease, antithrombotic therapy selection in embolic stroke of undetermined source and left ventricular thrombus, the role of closure of patent foramen ovale for secondary stroke prevention, and the thrombotic potential of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and vaccination. We conclude with a representative case to illustrate the application of the diagnostic framework and discuss the importance of consideration of bleeding risk and patient preference in determining the appropriate management plan.
Subject(s)
Thrombosis/diagnosis , Thrombosis/therapy , Adult , Atherosclerosis/complications , Atherosclerosis/diagnosis , Atherosclerosis/therapy , COVID-19/complications , Disease Management , Embolism/complications , Embolism/diagnosis , Embolism/therapy , Female , Foramen Ovale, Patent/complications , Foramen Ovale, Patent/diagnosis , Foramen Ovale, Patent/therapy , Humans , Secondary Prevention , Stroke/prevention & control , Thrombosis/etiologySubject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , Embolism/pathology , Endocarditis, Bacterial/pathology , Endocarditis/pathology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/pathology , Sepsis/pathology , Adult , Angiography , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/diagnostic imaging , COVID-19/virology , Embolism/complications , Embolism/diagnostic imaging , Embolism/virology , Endocarditis/complications , Endocarditis/diagnostic imaging , Endocarditis/virology , Endocarditis, Bacterial/complications , Endocarditis, Bacterial/diagnostic imaging , Endocarditis, Bacterial/virology , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Lung/diagnostic imaging , Lung/pathology , Lung/virology , Male , Respiration, Artificial , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/complications , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/diagnostic imaging , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/virology , SARS-CoV-2/growth & development , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Sepsis/complications , Sepsis/diagnostic imaging , Sepsis/virology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In the setting of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, a potential association of this disease with stroke has been suggested. We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients who were admitted with COVID-19 and had an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: This is a case series of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to an academic health system in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia (USA) between March 24th, 2020 and July 17th, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics were described. RESULTS: Of 396 ischemic stroke patients admitted during this study period, 13 (2.5%) were also diagnosed with COVID-19. The mean age of patients was 61.6 ± 10.8 years, 10 (76.9%) male, 8 (61.5%) were Black Americans, mean time from last normal was 4.97 ± 5.1 days, and only one received acute reperfusion therapy. All 13 patients had at least one stroke-associated co-morbidity. The predominant pattern of ischemic stroke was embolic with 4 explained by atrial fibrillation. COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher rate of cryptogenic stroke than non-COVID-19 patients during the study period (69% vs 17%, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In our case series, ischemic stroke affected COVID-19 patients with traditional stroke risk factors at an age typically seen in non-COVID populations, and mainly affecting males and Black Americans. We observed a predominantly embolic pattern of stroke with a higher than expected rate of cryptogenic strokes, a prolonged median time to presentation and symptom recognition limiting the use of acute reperfusion treatments. These results highlight the need for increased community awareness, early identification, and management of AIS in COVID-19 patients.