TWO CASES OF ARTERIAL THROMBUS IN COVID-19 INFECTION

Abstract

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Fellow Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Several studies have observed thrombotic complications in COVID-19 patients with rates as high as 30%. We present two COVID-19 cases of arterial and venous thrombotic complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old African American female was admitted for worsening respiratory failure due to COVID-19. HIT panel was obtained due to worsening thrombocytopenia, as the patient was on heparin for venous thrombosis prophylaxis, which was negative. Duplex of the lower extremities performed on hospital day 12 showed an acute non-occlusive deep vein thrombosis of the left common femoral vein, for which therapeutic heparin was initiated. On hospital day 25, the patient was found to have right digit ischemia with no flow to the right ulnar artery secondary to an occlusive arterial thrombus. Hematology was consulted for severe thrombocytopenia and considered to treat empirically for ITP with IVIG;however, the patient continued to decompensate and the family elected for comfort care measures. The patient expired on hospital day 30.Our second case report is a 64-year-old African American male presented from a local prison with worsening shortness of breath and was found to have COVID-19. Shortly after arrival from the ED to ICU, the patient went into cardiac arrest, ACLS was initiated and ROSC was achieved. The patient was in torsades and Vfib rhythm. He underwent left heart catheterization on hospital day 1 and was found to have 100% occlusion of obtuse marginal and underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent to OM2. On hospital day 8, the patient was found to have digit ischemia of the right first through third digits. Arterial and venous duplex showed thrombotic occlusion of the right radial artery from the mid-forearm to the wrist and an acute deep vein thrombus of the left subclavian and axillary veins. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 can be associated with arterial and venous thrombosis as highlighted by our two cases. Even though the pathophysiology of thromboembolic complications in COVID-19 is not reported in the literature, it is implicated due to inflammation, hypoxia, immobilization, and DIC. In a study done by Klok et al in COVID-19 ICU patients, 27% of the study population had CTPE/Ultrasonography confirmed venous thromboembolism and 3.7% had arterial thrombosis compared to 12% of venous thrombosis in the ICU. The mechanism for hyper-coagulability in COVID infection is not known, it has been linked to the inflammatory response rather than specific properties of the virus. This association of excess inflammation and COVID-19 with subsequent activation of coagulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Intermediate to therapeutic anticoagulation may be necessary to prevent venous and arterial thromboembolic events in ICU patients admitted with COVID-19 given their excessive inflammatory state. REFERENCE #1: Connors JM, Levy JH. COVID-19 and its implications for thrombosis and anticoagulation. Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology. 2020 Jun 4;135(23):2033-40. REFERENCE #2: Leisman DE, Deutschman CS, Legrand M. Facing COVID-19 in the ICU: vascular dysfunction, thrombosis, and dysregulated inflammation. Intensive Care Medicine. 2020 Apr 28:1-4. REFERENCE #3: Middeldorp S, Coppens M, van Haaps TF, Foppen M, Vlaar AP, Muller MC, Bouman CC, Beenen LF, Kootte RS, Heijmans J, Smits LP. Incidence of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2020 May 5. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Sarenthia Epps, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Harmeen Goraya, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Raga Deepak Reddy Palagiri, source=Web Response