Abstract

Background: While the COVID-19 pandemic affected more than thirty million people world-wide, still the true link between COVID-19 and the incidence of stroke remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Herein, we briefly discuss virology of COVID-19 and approaches for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients, as well as the mechanisms that link stroke and COVID-19.

Results: Many pathophysiologic and immunologic mechanisms have been implicated in stroke occurring among patients with COVID-19. COVID-19 pandemic has, in different ways, negative impacts on the care of stroke patients world-wide, and still, neurologists have to face many challenges to improve the care of stroke patients during such crisis.

Conclusion: Although the control of the COVID-19 is of crucial importance, at the same time, the management of stroke must not be neglected. Therefore, preserving care for critical conditions such as stroke, and providing strategies to ensure this continues, have a priority even during the crisis. Till vaccine is available for COVID-19, strategies for rapid diagnosis and those for treating patients with that disease are evolving. Further studies are warranted.

Keywords: COVID-19, stroke, pathophysiology, outcomes, stroke and COVID, SARS-CoV, COVID virology.