COVID-19 as the cause of thrombosis: recognising COVID-19 infection in apparently asymptomatic patients.
Publication Title
BMJ Case Rep
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-7-2021
Keywords
2019-nCoV; washington; spokane; PSHMC; PHF; Asymptomatic Diseases; COVID-19; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Renal Artery; SARS-CoV-2; Thrombolytic Therapy; Thrombosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Abstract
COVID-19 has serious thrombotic complications in critically ill patients; however, thrombus is not a typical presenting symptom. This case report describes a patient with no respiratory symptoms who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. The pain was attributed to renal thrombosis, but the patient was found to have no risk factors for thrombotic disease and subsequent hypercoagulable work-up was unremarkable. Pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 infection were detected incidentally on the abdominal CT scan and confirmed via PCR test. The patient was isolated and went on to develop mild respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 infection. This case suggests that unexplained thrombus in otherwise asymptomatic patients can be a direct result of COVID-19 infection, and serves as a call to action for emergency department clinicians to treat unexplained thrombotic events as evidence of COVID-19.
Area of Special Interest
Cardiovascular (Heart)
Specialty/Research Institute
Cardiology
Specialty/Research Institute
Emergency Medicine
