Background and aims
The hypercoagulable state that the COVID-19 elicits can lead to acute thrombotic complications including ischemic stroke. Here we describe the clinical profile, neuroimaging findings, interventions, and outcomes of COVID-19-related stroke patients in a tertiary hospital.
Methods
This is a retrospective study of all COVID-19-related stroke patients who were hospitalized between November 2020 and March 2021 at King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) during the peak period in Jordan. Clinical characteristics, laboratory and neuroimaging data, interventions, and outcomes were collected. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in all patients by RT-PCR testing.
Results
A total of 17 COVID-19-related stroke patients were identified, with a mean age of 70.8 ± 9.4 years and a male percentage of 47.1% (8/17). All of them were ischemic strokes. COVID-19-related stroke patients had high peak D-dimer and troponin levels with a median of 4.13 (IQR: 11.81), and 0.041 (IQR: 0.105), respectively. The mean duration of hospital stay was 11.9 ± 9.2 days. Seven patients died in the hospital (41.2%), while 10 patients had a modified Rankin score of ≤4 at discharge.
Conclusions
Cryptogenic and cardio embolic stroke patients were more severe with higher mortality and morbidity rates in comparison with other COVID-19-related strokes. Further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of therapeutic and prophylactic anticoagulants in stroke patients with COVID-19 infection.