ABSTRACT Objective To describe cerebrovascular manifestations in patients hospitalized for treatment of severe COVID-19, highlighting the comorbidities observed, and those that may play a relevant role as risk factors for severe outcomes. Methods This case series retrospective analyzed, from June to November, 2020, ten patients admitted to the emergency department, with positive nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction assay for SARS-CoV-2, presenting with neurological symptoms and positive findings at brain imaging studies. Results In this sample, the clinical severity of the symptoms varied from mild to critical. Ischemic stroke was observed in four patients, hemorrhagic events occurred in five cases. Three patients evolved with large parenchymal hemorrhage, and one presented petechial bleeding foci. In one case, we observed subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with bilateral hypodensity in both globus pallidus. Typical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome findings were observed in one patient on brain computed tomography. Conclusion Patients with neurovascular complications related to COVID-19 had positive findings in brain imaging and neurological symptoms. The pathological entities observed drew attention to the neurological risk of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, including worse outcomes in individuals whose medical history includes clinical comorbidities, especially hypertension and obesity.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the importance of computed tomography and computed tomography angiography (CTA) in stroke protocols, as well as their impact on endovascular treatment and on the determination of the etiology. Materials and Methods Were evaluated 28 patients with acute/hyperacute stroke in the anterior circulation who underwent intracranial and cervical CTA between April 2018 and August 2019. The parameters evaluated were the degree of stenosis, plaque characteristics, type of infarct, treatment, etiology, and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Results: Of the 28 patients evaluated, 16 (57.1%) had an ASPECTS of 10 (the maximum score, indicative of normality). Four patients (14.3%) underwent thrombolytic treatment, and seven (25.0%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy. The etiology was atherosclerosis in 32.1% of the patients, cerebral small-vessel disease in 7.1%, cardioembolic in 7.1%, and undetermined in 53.6%. Regarding plaque, 17.9% of the patients presented stenosis ≥ 50%, 21.4% presented stable plaques, and 42.9% presented vulnerable plaques. Patients with a lower ASPECTS were more likely to have relevant stenosis and were more likely to have a total infarct. Conclusion: In the evaluation of patients with acute/hyperacute strokes, CTA provides important information, identifying occlusion, as well as helping define the etiology and inform decisions regarding treatment.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a importância da tomografia computadorizada e angiotomografia computadorizada (ATC) no protocolo de acidente vascular encefálico (AVE) e o seu impacto no tratamento endovascular e na determinação da etiologia. Materiais e Métodos: Foram avaliados 28 pacientes com AVE agudo/hiperagudo da circulação anterior que realizaram ATC intracraniana e cervical, no período de abril de 2018 a agosto de 2019. Os parâmetros avaliados foram grau de estenose, placa, tipo do infarto, tratamento, etiologia e classificação Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Resultados: A maioria dos casos (16; 57,1%) apresentou ASPECTS de 10. Quatro pacientes (14,3%) realizaram tratamento trombolítico e sete (25%) foram submetidos a trombectomia mecânica. A etiologia foi aterosclerose em 32,1% dos pacientes, doença de pequenas artérias em 7,1%, cardioembólico em 7,1% e indeterminada em 53,6%. Em relação à placa, 17,9% apresentaram estenose maior que 50%, 21,4% apresentaram placas estáveis e 42,9%, placas instáveis. Pacientes com ASPECTS mais baixo apresentavam maior probabilidade de ter estenose relevante e apresentavam maior chance de ocorrência de infarto total. Conclusão: A ATC fornece informações importantes na avaliação do paciente com AVE agudo/hiperagudo, identificando a oclusão e auxiliando na definição da etiologia e no direcionamento do tratamento.