The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the binding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors present on various locations such as the pulmonary alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium. In COVID-19 patients, the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with these receptors in the cerebral blood vessels has been attributed to stroke. Although the incidence of acute ischemic stroke is relatively low, ranging from 1% to 6%, the mortality associated with it is substantially high, reaching as high as 38%. This case series describes three distinct yet similar scenarios of COVID-19 positive patients with several underlying comorbidities, wherein two of the patients presented to our hospital with sudden onset right-sided weakness, later diagnosed with ischemic stroke, and one patient who developed an acute intracerebral hemorrhage during his hospital stay. The patients were diagnosed with acute stroke as a complication of COVID-19 infection. We also provide an insight into the possible mechanisms responsible for the life-threatening complication. Physicians should have a low threshold for suspecting stroke in COVID-19 patients, and close observation should be kept on such patients particularly those with clinical evidence of traditional risk factors.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Mortality, stroke, co-morbidity, Complication, Intracerebral hemorrhage, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, Risk factors, hospital, Infection, Comorbidities, novel coronavirus disease, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, Patient, receptor, incidence, threshold, mechanism, COVID-19 patients, binding, Coronavirus-2, Interaction, Hospital stay, observation, Vascular endothelium, acute respiratory syndrome, blood vessel, life-threatening, weakness, clinical evidence, physician, complication of COVID-19, alveolar epithelium, responsible, caused, the patient, diagnosed, case sery, COVID-19 positive patient, 【제목키워드】 Ischemic, Mounting,