Cerebral vasculitis of medium-sized vessels as a possible mechanism of brain damage in COVID-19 patients.
J Neuroradiol
; 48(3): 141-146, 2021 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33340640
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Cerebral complications related to COVID-19 were recently reported, and the underlying mechanisms of brain damage remain uncertain, probably multifactorial. Among various hypotheses suggested, a possible vasculitis was issued but never confirmed. Herein, we aimed to describe brain MRIs focused on the intracranial vessel wall in a population of COVID-19 patients with neurologic manifestations. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Between March 1 and May 31, 2020, 69 consecutive COVID-19 patients with neurologic manifestations underwent a brain MRI allowing the study of the intracranial vessel wall at Strasbourg University hospitals and were retrospectively included. During the same period, 25 consecutive patients, without suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection, underwent a brain MRI urgently, with the same imaging protocols. A vasculitis seemed likely when imaging demonstrated vessel wall thickening with homogeneous and concentric enhancement.RESULTS:
Among the 69 COVID-19 patients included, 11 (16%) presented arterial vessel wall thickening with homogeneous and concentric enhancement, compatible with cerebral vasculitis. These neuroimaging findings were not found among the 25 patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the difference was statistically significant (pâ¯=â¯0.03). Middle cerebral arteries, basilar artery, and posterior cerebral arteries were the most frequent vessels involved. For nine of them, imaging demonstrated ischemic or hemorrhagic complications.CONCLUSION:
Cerebral vasculitis of medium-sized vessels seems to be one of the mechanisms at the origin of brain damage related to COVID-19.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Encéfalo
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Vasculitis del Sistema Nervioso Central
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COVID-19
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neuroradiol
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia