Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which spreads rapidly from person to person and manifests in most symptomatic patients as a respiratory illness, similar to prior SARS viruses. Neurologic manifestations of COVID-19 are uncommon; those so far reported include encephalopathy, stroke from large-vessel occlusion, and polyneuropathy. We report a unique neurologic complication of COVID-19 in a patient who had extensive cerebral small-vessel ischemic lesions resembling cerebral vasculitis in a characteristic combined imaging pattern of ischemia, hemorrhage, and punctuate postcontrast enhancement. Also, a characteristic lower extremity skin rash was present in our patient. Our observation lends support to the increasingly suspected mechanism of "endotheliitis" associated with this novel coronavirus.

Background and Purpose: The efficiency of prehospital care chain response and the adequacy of hospital resources are challenged amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, with suspected consequences for patients with ischemic stroke eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods: We conducted a prospective national-level data collection of patients treated with MT, ranging 45 days across epidemic containment measures instatement, and of patients treated during the same calendar period in 2019. The primary end point was the variation of patients receiving MT during the epidemic period. Secondary end points included care delays between onset, imaging, and groin puncture. To analyze the primary end point, we used a Poisson regression model. We then analyzed the correlation between the number of MTs and the number of COVID-19 cases hospitalizations, using the Pearson correlation coefficient (compared with the null value). Results: A total of 1513 patients were included at 32 centers, in all French administrative regions. There was a 21% significant decrease (0.79; [95%CI, 0.76–0.82]; P <0.001) in MT case volumes during the epidemic period, and a significant increase in delays between imaging and groin puncture, overall (mean 144.9±SD 86.8 minutes versus 126.2±70.9; P <0.001 in 2019) and in transferred patients (mean 182.6±SD 82.0 minutes versus 153.25±67; P <0.001). After the instatement of strict epidemic mitigation measures, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of hospitalizations for COVID and the number of MT cases ( R 2 −0.51; P =0.04). Patients treated during the COVID outbreak were less likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis and to have unwitnessed strokes (both P <0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed a significant decrease in patients treated with MTs during the first stages of the COVID epidemic in France and alarming indicators of lengthened care delays. These findings prompt immediate consideration of local and regional stroke networks preparedness in the varying contexts of COVID-19 pandemic evolution.

BackgroundDecompressive hemicraniectomy (DH) increases survival without severe dependency in patients with large middle cerebral artery (LMCA) infarcts. The objective was to identify predictors of 1-year outcome after DH for LMCA infarct.MethodsWe conducted this study in consecutive patients who underwent DH for LMCA infarcts, in a tertiary stroke centre. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, we evaluated predictors of (1) 30-day mortality and (2) poor outcome after 1 year (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4–6) in 30-day survivors.ResultsOf 212 patients (133 men, 63%; median age 51 years), 35 (16.5%) died within 30 days. Independent predictors of mortality were infarct volume before DH (OR 1.10 per 10 mL increase, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.16), delay between symptom onset and DH (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.73 per 12 hours increase) and midline shift after DH (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.14). The optimal infarct volume cut-off to predict death was 210 mL or more. Among the 177 survivors, 77 (43.5%) had a poor outcome at 1 year. Independent predictors of poor outcome were age (OR 1.08 per 1 year increase, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.12) and weekly alcohol consumption of 300 g or more (OR 5.30, 95% CI 2.20 to 12.76), but not infarct volume.ConclusionIn patients with LMCA infarcts treated by DH, stroke characteristics (infarct volume before DH, midline shift after DH and early DH) predict 30-day mortality, while patients’ characteristics (age and excessive alcohol intake) predict 1-year outcome survivors.

Background and Purpose: Infarct volumes predict malignant infarcts in patients undergoing decompressive hemicraniectomy (DH) for large middle cerebral artery territory infarcts. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal magnetic resonance imaging infarct volume threshold that predicts a catastrophic outcome at 1 year (modified Rankin Scale score of 5 or death). Methods: We included consecutive patients who underwent DH for large middle cerebral artery infarcts. We analyzed infarct volumes before DH with semi-automated methods on b1000 diffusion-weighted imaging sequences and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. We studied infarct volume thresholds for prediction of catastrophic outcomes, and analyzed sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve, a value ≥0.70 indicating an acceptable prediction. Results: Of 173 patients (109 men, 63%; median age 53 years), 42 (24.3%) had catastrophic outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging b1000 diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient infarct volumes were associated to the occurrence of 1-year catastrophic outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 9.17 [95% CI, 2.00–42.04] and odds ratio, 4.18 [95% CI, 1.33–13.19], respectively, per 1 log increase). The optimal volume cutoff of were 211 mL on b1000 diffusion-weighted imaging and 181 mL on apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The 2 methods showed similar sensitivities and specificities and overlapping area under the curve of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.54–0.74). Conclusions: In patients with large middle cerebral artery infarcts, optimal magnetic resonance imaging infarct volume thresholds showed poor accuracy and low specificity to predict 1-year catastrophic outcome, with different b1000 diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient thresholds. In the setting of DH, optimal infarct volumes alone should not be used to deny DH, irrespectively of the method used.