In a small cohort of 214 COVID19 from Wuhan, China, the investigators observed an incidence rate of acute ischemic stroke of 5%. If these data are accurate--with a worldwide prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 quickly surpassing 2 million--the number of patients who also experience cerebrovascular complications may already exceed 100,000. In attempt to confirm these preliminary estimates, the Society of Vascular Interventional Neurology has launched a multi-center, prospective collaboration to capture the incidence rate of stroke and cerebrovascular disease in the United States. Our primary objective of this investigation is to better understand the epidemiology and mechanisms of stroke and cerebrovascular disease in patients with COVID19, and to evaluate the impact this pandemic has on systems of care.

There are a growing number of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including microangiopathic thromboses, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, myocardial infarction and myocarditis, cerebral infarction, and venous sinus thrombosis. In addition, reports of patients with myositis, encephalitis and Guillain-Barre have been described in patients with COVID19. In order to better understand these complications, to expedite earlier recognition, and to explore potential therapeutic options, it is critical that academic societies like the SVIN investigate these complications on a population level. If your center is interested in collaborating with the SVIN in this regard, and your center has the means to capture consecutively diagnosed patients for SARS-CoV-2 and acute ischemic stroke, please reach out to the SVIN PI, James Siegler at siegler-james@cooperhealth.edu

Only through collaborations like that of SVIN will we be better prepared to manage the complications of this pandemic.