OBJECTIVE

To measure markers of inflammation and angiogenesis in circulating blood in patients who have had an ischemic stroke (IS) during a previous new coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 80 patients diagnosed with IS. Of these, 58 subjects had documented COVID-19 at least 4 months before enrollment (main group). The comparison group consisted of 22 patients with IS who did not have infectious diseases during the specified 4-month period. In addition to the routine laboratory tests, the following serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) parameters were measured in all participants: chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor type A (VEGF-A), interferon-gamma (IFN-g), and interleukin (IL)-6.

RESULTS

Serum levels of IL-6 (p<0.05), MCP-1 (p<0.05), C-reactive protein (p<0.05), and ferritin (p<0.05) were significantly increased in patients with IS with a history of COVID-19, in addition to a decrease in IFN-γ (p<0.05) and an increase in VEGF-A (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

A history of COVID-19 may contribute to persistent vascular inflammation and exacerbate cerebrovascular disease. Such patients require closer monitoring and, possibly, reconsideration of approaches to prevention and therapy at various stages of follow-up.