Infarction of the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum in the Age of COVID-19: A Snapshot in Time

Steven A. Sparr, Phyllis L. Bieri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Ischemic infarction of the corpus callosum is rare and infarction isolated to the corpus callosum alone rarer still, accounting for much <1% of ischemic stroke in most stroke registries. About half of callosal infarctions affect the splenium. Methods: During a 2-week period, at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, 4 patients at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx were found to have ischemic lesions of the splenium of the corpus callosum, 2 with infarction isolated to the corpus callosum. Results: All patients tested positive for COVID-19 and 3 had prolonged periods of intubation. All had cardiovascular risk factors. Clinically, all presented with encephalopathy and had evidence of coagulopathy and raised inflammatory markers. Conclusions: Infarction of the splenium of the corpus callosum is exceedingly rare and a cluster of such cases suggests COVID-19 as an inciting agent, with the mechanisms to be elucidated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E223-E226
JournalStroke
Volume51
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • coronavirus
  • corpus callosum
  • inpatients
  • posterior cerebral artery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Infarction of the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum in the Age of COVID-19: A Snapshot in Time'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this