Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Large-vessel thrombotic stroke despite concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation in COVID-19-positive patient
Andrew Shoukry1, Thomas A Kite1
1Trent Cardiac Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Insights
This case report details a large-vessel stroke in an anticoagulated patient with COVID-19. It highlights the risk of severe thrombotic events even with therapeutic anticoagulation during coronavirus disease 2019.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is linked to coagulopathy and thrombotic events.
- Thromboembolic phenomena have been observed in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Observation:
- A case of a large-vessel cerebrovascular thrombus is presented in an 89-year-old male with COVID-19.
- The patient was on therapeutic anticoagulation during his admission for COVID-19 pneumonitis.
Findings:
- Despite clinical improvement, the patient developed an acute left-sided total anterior circulation stroke 10 days after symptom onset.
- Computed tomography angiography revealed a large-vessel thrombus in the internal carotid artery, leading to a right middle cerebral artery territory infarction.
Implications:
- This case represents one of the first documented instances of large-vessel thrombus in a COVID-19 patient receiving therapeutic anticoagulation.
- It underscores the complex thrombotic risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in anticoagulated individuals.
Abstract:
The current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is now recognized to be associated with a coagulopathy that can result in arterial and venous thromboses. In this report, we describe a case of large-vessel cerebrovascular thrombus in a therapeutically anticoagulated 89-year-old male admitted with COVID-19 infection. Despite clinical improvement following COVID-19 pneumonitis, symptoms of an acute left-sided total anterior circulation stroke rapidly developed 10 days after initial COVID-19 symptom onset. Computed tomography angiography imaging confirmed acute large-vessel thrombus in the terminal segment of the internal carotid artery resulting in acute right middle cerebral artery territory infarction. Thromboembolic events in the context of COVID-19 infection have recently been described in critically unwell patients. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first cases of large-vessel thrombus in a patient with COVID-19 infection receiving concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction

