Acute stroke in young patients positive for COVID-19: A report of six cases

Abstract

We report here 6 young patients of stroke with COVID-19 infection. These patients were positive for COVID-19, as confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) The patients’ mean age was 44.5 ± 1 years, and 83% were young males without cerebrovascular risk factors. Five patients had an ischemic stroke, one patient had intracranial hemorrhage. The mean stroke onset time was 10.2 ± 6.1 days after the COVID-19 diagnosis. Two patients were symptom-free for COVID-19. The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 9.1 ± 5.3. Three patients had severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Large vessel occlusion was detected in 3 patients with ischemic stroke. Two patients were treated with intravenous thrombolytic, one patient underwent a mechanical thrombectomy, and an elective stent was fitted on another patient. In conclusion, COVID-19 should be considered as a possible cause particularly in young strokes during the pandemic period.