Don't forget arterial thrombosis in patients with COVID-19: A case series

Introduction

The acute disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS COV-2) is accompanied by a hypercoagulable state. Multiple publications have described the venous thromboembolic events associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but arterial thromboembolic events have yet to be described.

Cases description

We describe five COVID-19 patients that developed severe morbidity as a result of occlusive arterial thromboembolic events occurring despite treatment with low molecular weight heparin. All cases presented with an acute confusional state and were accompanied by rapid elevations of lactate and D-dimers and leukocytes. The end organs involved were the kidneys, spleen, liver, lungs, central nervous system, intestines and limbs. Only one of the five patients survived.

Conclusion

COVID-19 is associated with not only venous but also arterial thromboembolic events. Further research is required to clarify the incidence, causes and possible modes of prevention of this potentially lethal disease complication.