COVID-19 Respiratory Illness and Subsequent Cerebrovascular Events, the Initial Iranian Experience.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
; 30(1): 105454, 2021 Jan.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1023683
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
COVID-19 disproportionately affects older adults and individuals with cardiovascular co-morbidities. This report presents fifteen patients who had COVID-19 respiratory illness followed by cerebrovascular events. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A call by the Iranian Neurological Association gathered cases across the country who developed neurological symptoms attributed to hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke after a definite or probable Covid-19 respiratory illness. Definite cases were those with a typical respiratory illness, positive nasopharyngeal Covid-19 PCR test, and chest CT consistent with Covid-19 infection. Probable cases were defined by a typical respiratory illness, history of contacts with a Covid-19 case, and chest CT characteristic for Covid-19 infection.RESULTS:
Fifteen patients (12 men and 3 women) with an age range of 38 to 93 years old (median 65 years old) were included. Fourteen patients had a first-ever acute ischemic stroke and one patient had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Eleven patients (73%) had previous cardiovascular comorbidities. The median time between respiratory symptoms and neurological symptoms was seven days (range 1-16 days). Stroke severity in two patients was mild (NIHSS ≤ 6), in six patients moderate (NIHSS 7-12), and in seven patients severe (NIHSS ≥13). One patient received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator ( IV-tPA) with improved neurological symptoms. Six out of 15 patients (40%) died. All but one of those who survived had significant disability assessed by a modified ranking scale >2. The majority of patients in this case series had vascular risk factors and their stroke was associated with severe disability and death.CONCLUSION:
This report highlights the need for further investigation of the links between Covid-19 and cerebrovascular events.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cerebrovascular Disorders
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
Journal subject:
Vascular Diseases
/
Brain
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105454
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