Stroke Treatment in the Era of COVID-19: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe a comprehensive review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of stroke in the era of COVID-19. RECENT FINDINGS: COVID-19 is associated with myriad neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular disease. While ischemic stroke is the most common, COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage, arterial dissection, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of stroke due to COVID-19. In addition, we describe how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of stroke systems of care and the effect this has had on patients with cerebrovascular disease. SUMMARY: While COVID-19 is associated with a heightened risk of stroke, the pandemic has led to advances in stroke systems of care that may reduce the long-term burden of stroke.