Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
Published on: November 5, 2021
Is SARS-CoV-2 infection an emerging risk factor for splanchnic venous thrombosis?
Cesare Tripolino1, Attilia Maria Pizzini1, Stefania Zaccaroni1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore "Carlo Alberto Pizzardi", Bologna, Italy.
Insights
Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) can cause splanchnic venous thrombosis, including portal vein thrombosis. Early diagnosis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms is crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Thrombosis is a significant complication of COVID-19.
- While pulmonary and deep vein thromboses are common, splanchnic venous thrombosis is increasingly recognized.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection may contribute to splanchnic venous thrombosis.
Observation:
- A case of a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting with abdominal pain and portal vein thrombosis is detailed.
- The patient's portal vein thrombosis was attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection after excluding other common causes.
Findings:
- The study highlights a potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and splanchnic venous thrombosis.
- Exclusion of other etiologies confirmed SARS-CoV-2 as the likely cause in this case.
Implications:
- Clinicians should suspect thrombosis in COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Prompt diagnosis and management of splanchnic venous thrombosis in COVID-19 can improve patient prognosis.
Objective:
Thrombosis represents one of the most feared complications of the COronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Although pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis are the most described complications, some investigations reported thrombotic localization also in the splanchnic venous district.
Methods:
We describe the case of a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting with abdominal pain and diagnosed with portal vein thrombosis. In addition, we shortly review available literature supporting the possible role of COVID-19 as leading cause of splanchnic venous thrombosis.
Results:
After in-depth diagnostic workup, we excluded the commonest causes of portal thrombosis and concluded that SARS-CoV-2 infection represented the main explanation of this finding.
Conclusions:
Our study warns the clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for thrombosis in patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection manifesting gastrointestinal symptoms. An appropriate diagnostic work-up could allow to obtain an early diagnosis and consequently improve the clinical outcome of patients.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Esophageal Varices-I: Introduction
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

