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Semin Neurol 2023; 43(02): 219-228
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768475
Review Article

COVID-19 and Cerebrovascular Disease

Christina Catherine
1   Department of Neurology, UPMC Altoona Regional Hospital, Altoona, Pennsylvania
,
Julia Veitinger
2   Division of Neurocritical Care, The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
,
Sherry H-Y. Chou
2   Division of Neurocritical Care, The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations
Funding This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health R21-NS113037.
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Abstract

COVID-19 has been associated with numerous neurological complications, with acute cerebrovascular disease being one of the most devastating complications. Ischemic stroke is the most common cerebrovascular complication of COVID-19, affecting between 1 and 6% of all patients. Underlying mechanisms for COVID-related ischemic strokes are thought to be due to vasculopathy, endotheliopathy, direct invasion of the arterial wall, and platelet activation. Other COVID-19-associated cerebrovascular complications include hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral microbleeds, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. This article discusses the incidence of these cerebrovascular complications, risk factors, management strategies, prognosis and future research directions, as well as considerations in pregnancy-related cerebrovascular events in the setting of COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19 - stroke - venous sinus thrombosis - cerebral microbleeds


Publication History

Article published online:
22 May 2023

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