Mechanical thrombectomy is feasible in anticoagulated patients with acute ischemic stroke. The outcomes and safety profile are similar to those of patients with no prior anticoagulation therapy.

Introduction The syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) may mimic stroke when patients present with acute/subacute focal neurological deficits. It would be helpful to identify investigations that assist the neurologist in differentiating between HaNDL and stroke. Case reports We describe three cases that proved to be HaNDL, but were initially considered to be strokes. Hypoperfusion was noted in the CT perfusion (CTP) studies in all three cases, which extended beyond any single cerebral arterial supply. The CTP findings suggested a stroke mimic, and there was no improvement on thrombolysis. MRI failed to show any abnormalities in diffusion and EEGs showed non-epileptiform changes. Lumbar punctures demonstrated a lymphocytic pleocytosis. Conclusion The diagnosis of HaNDL is based on clinical and CSF criteria, but neuroimaging, including CT perfusion, can be helpful in differentiating the clinical syndrome from stroke.

Background and aims Cerebral infarction in COVID-19 patients might be associated with a hypercoagulable state related to a systemic inflammatory response. Its diagnosis might be challenging. We present two critically ill patients with COVID-19 who presented acutely altered mental status as the main manifestation of multiple strokes. Methods Clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up of the patients. Results Two patients in their sixties were hospitalized with a bilateral pneumonia COVID-19. They developed respiratory failure and were admitted to ICU for mechanical ventilation and intense medical treatment. They were started on low-molecular-weight heparin since admission. Their laboratory results showed lymphopenia and increased levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer. Case 1 developed hypofibrinogenemia and presented several cutaneous lesions with biopsy features of thrombotic vasculopathy. Case 2 was performed a CT pulmonary angiogram at ICU showing a bilateral pulmonary embolism. When waking up, both patients were conscious but with a remarkable global altered mental status without focal neurological deficits. A brain MRI revealed multiple acute bilateral ischemic lesions with areas of hemorrhagic transformation in both patients (case 1: affecting the left frontal and temporal lobes and both occipital lobes; case 2: affecting both frontal and left occipital lobes). Cardioembolic source and acquired antiphospholipid syndrome were ruled out. COVID-19-associated coagulopathy was suspected as the possible main etiology of the strokes. Conclusion Acutely altered mental status might be the main manifestation of multiple brain infarctions in critically ill COVID-19 patients. It should be specially considered in those with suspected COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Full-dose anticoagulation and clinical-radiological monitoring might reduce their neurological consequences.

Background and purpose Stroke mimics (SMs) account for a significant number of patients attended as stroke code (SC) with an increasing number over the years. Recent studies show perfusion computed tomography (PCT) alterations in some SMs, especially in seizures. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and PCT alterations in SMs attended as SC in order to identify potential predictors of PCT alterations in SMs. Methods A retrospective study was performed including all SC activations undergoing a multimodal CT study including non‐enhanced computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and PCT, as part of our SC protocol, over 39 months. Patients with a final diagnosis of SM after complete diagnosis work‐up were therefore selected. Clinical variables, diagnosis, PCT alteration patterns and type of map affected (Tmax or time to peak, cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume) were registered. Results Stroke mimics represent up to 16% (284/1761) of SCs with a complete multimodal study according to our series. Amongst SMs, 26% (74/284) showed PCT alterations. PCT abnormalities are more prevalent in seizures and status epilepticus and the main pattern is alteration of the time to peak map, of unilateral hemispheric distribution or of non‐vascular territory. In our series, the independent predictors of alteration in PCT in SMs are aphasia, female sex and older age. Conclusions Perfusion computed tomography alterations can be found amongst almost a third of SMs attended as SC, especially older women presenting with aphasia with a final diagnosis of epileptic seizures and status epilepticus.