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Successful treatment of ascending aortic thrombosis associated with coronavirus disease 2019: Case report
Norihisa Miyawaki1, Makoto Kinoshita1, Yutaka Furukawa1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Insights
Anticoagulant therapy effectively treated arterial thrombosis in a COVID-19 patient, resolving aortic thrombi and limb artery occlusion. Follow-up imaging confirmed thrombus disappearance, suggesting this approach for similar cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- COVID-19 is linked to both arterial and venous thrombosis.
- Established treatment protocols for aortic thrombosis in COVID-19 patients are lacking.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male with COVID-19 presented with ascending aorta thrombus and lower limb artery occlusion.
- Computed tomography confirmed the presence of thrombi.
Findings:
- Anticoagulant therapy, initially with heparin then warfarin, was administered.
- Thrombus resolution was observed by day 20 of treatment.
- Follow-up CT angiography at 3 months showed no recurrence.
Implications:
- Anticoagulants alone may be a viable treatment for arterial thrombosis in COVID-19.
- Serial computed tomography can monitor thrombus resolution and guide early discontinuation of therapy.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with arterial thrombosis, including aortic thrombus with embolism as well as venous thrombosis. We report a case of a 59-year-old man with COVID-19 showing thrombus in the ascending aorta and occlusion of the lower limb artery on computed tomography. Anticoagulant therapy via continuous intravenous infusion of heparin was started with a therapeutic target range (activated partial thromboplastin time 42-70 s, 1.5-2.5 × patient baseline). The patient was then transferred to warfarin medication and prothrombin time-international normalized ratio was managed at 1.5-2.5. The disappearance of the thrombus was confirmed on the 20th day after starting anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulant therapy was then discontinued, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) 3 months later showed no recurrence of aortic thrombi or embolism. Anticoagulant therapy alone may be considered for arterial thrombosis in COVID-19 and follow-up CT may allow for early discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy to confirm disappearance of thrombus.
Learning Objective:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is recognized to cause arterial thrombosis as well as venous thrombosis. However, treatment of aortic thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 has not yet been established. Anticoagulants alone may be effective against aortic thrombi in patients with COVID-19 and follow-up computed tomography may allow for early discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy to confirm disappearance of thrombus.
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