COVID-19, Mucormycosis and Stroke: Triple Whammy - Abstract
There had been an increase in number of cases of mucormycosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), an uncommon complication of invasive fungal infection, is seen more often with COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) due to multiple reasons. Most of the AIS are large artery infarcts occurring ipsilateral to the side of rhino-orbito-cerebral involvement in middle cerebral artery or watershed territories. Intracranial carotid artery involvement in the cavernous sinus is the most common vascular abnormality which may be a progressive vascular disease. Patients can develop ischemic strokes despite being on antiplatelets and/or anticoagulation. Systemic antifungal agents and surgical debridement seems best therapeutic strategy. Morbidity can be reduced by early diagnosis and interventions through a
multidisciplinary team.