Stroke and COVID-19 Pandemic: The Dilemma

Abstract

Background: While COVID-19 pandemic affected more than thirty million people world-wide, still the true link between COVID-19 and incidence of stroke remains to be elucidated. Methods: Herein, we discuss briefly 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 care of stroke patients world-wide, and still many challenges are facing to the neurologists to improve care of stroke patients during such crisis. Conclusions: 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 at 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.