Abstract
A high incidence of thrombotic events, particularly deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, has been clearly documented in COVID-19 patients. In addition, small series of patients with coronary, cerebrovascular and peripheral arterial thrombotic events have also been reported, but their true incidence and consequences are not well described, and constitute the objective of this study. From February 1st to April 21st, 2020, 2115 COVID-19 patients were treated at Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (Madrid, Spain), and 1419 were eventually admitted. Patient characteristics and outcomes were collected by reviewing their electronic medical records. Fourteen patients had a systemic arterial thrombotic event, which represents a 1% incidence in relation to the total number of hospitalized patients. Three patients suffered an acute coronary syndrome, two with persistent ST-segment elevation, one of whom was treated invasively, and one with transient ST-segment elevation. Eight patients had a cerebrovascular event. Six suffered an acute ischemic stroke and two a transient ischemic attack, 50% of them had a Rankin score ≥ 3 at discharge. Three additional patients had a limb thrombotic event, all of them infrapopliteal, and were managed conservatively. All three cases developed necrosis of the toes, two of them with bilateral involvement. The hospitalization death rate of patients with an arterial event was 28.6%. Although COVID-19 may favor the occurrence of thrombotic events, the destabilization and thrombosis of arterial atherosclerotic plaques do not seem to be a frequent mechanism which warrants the need for specific systematic preventive measures.
Highlights
In patients with SARS-CoV2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection it has been recently emphasized that thrombotic events contribute to the severity [1] of the disease and antithrombotic treatment has been gradually scaled up worldwide [2]
From February 1st up until April 21st, 2020, a total of 2115 COVID-19 patients were treated at Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (Madrid, Spain), of which 251 have died (11.9%)
During the period studied 14 COVID-19 patients had a systemic arterial event, which represents an incidence of 1% in relation to the total number of hospitalized patients
Summary
In patients with SARS-CoV2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) infection it has been recently emphasized that thrombotic events contribute to the severity [1] of the disease and antithrombotic treatment has been gradually scaled up worldwide [2]. Small series of patients with coronary [6, 7], cerebrovascular [8] and peripheral arterial events [9] have been reported, but their true incidence and clinical consequences are not well established. Knowing such incidence will help to prioritize or de-escalate the focus on the diagnosis of these complications as well as to implement specific preventive measures if their frequency warrants it
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
