Acute Ischemic Stroke With Central Retinal Artery Occlusion as a Rare Presentation of COVID-19 Disease

Abstract

In this report, we present a case where the patient developed a border-zone ischemic stroke with central retinal artery occlusion (RAO) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease. The COVID-19 disease has been described to induce inflammatory changes that predispose to thrombotic disease in both venous and arterial circulation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expression in the blood vessel with which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binds is the cornerstone of inflammation although the pathogenesis of central RAO is multifactorial. The effects of COVID-19 inflammatory and pro-coagulant state on cerebral and retinal vascular systems are still inadequately understood. Combined presentation of central RAO with ischemic stroke has not been documented in the literature yet. As of now, no guidelines exist regarding treatment modalities to be employed in such instances. Hence, further research is warranted regarding the treatment of this condition with respect to the association with COVID-19.