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Multiple Lacunar Cerebral Infarcts as the Initial Presentation of COVID-19
Amro Elshereye1, Burak Erdinc1
1Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA.
Insights
A rare initial presentation of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) involved acute ischemic stroke in a 75-year-old female. This case highlights the need for awareness regarding neurological complications of COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019, rapidly becoming a global pandemic.
- Severe COVID-19 is associated with thrombotic complications, including myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic stroke.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old female presented with sudden onset slurred speech and right-sided facial droop.
- Diagnostic workup confirmed COVID-19 and revealed acute ischemic stroke as the primary presenting symptom.
Findings:
- Ischemic stroke as the initial manifestation of COVID-19 is infrequently reported in medical literature.
- This case underscores the diverse clinical presentations of COVID-19.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should consider COVID-19 in patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms, even without typical respiratory signs.
- Increased awareness of COVID-19-associated stroke is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
- This case contributes to understanding the spectrum of neurological complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Abstract:
Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) is a novel corona virus that started as an outbreak in the Hubei province of China in December 2019 and later became a pandemic affecting every continent on the planet. Patients with severe COVID-19 tend to develop acute thrombotic complications including myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and ischemic stroke. We describe a case of a 75-year-old-female who presented with acute onset slurred speech and right sided facial droop. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 with acute ischemic stroke as the initial presentation. Stroke as the initial presentation of COVID-19 is rare and has not been described in the literature frequently. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness about this potential complication of COVID-19 as an initial presentation.
