SESSION TITLE: Cardiovascular Complications in Patients with COVID-19
SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Case Reports
PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
INTRODUCTION: It is well established that SARS-CoV-2 infection predisposes patients to develop thromboses. Here we present an elderly Hispanic male with who was hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia and was on therapeutic anticoagulation, yet still developed an acute right coronary artery occlusion secondary to thrombus formation.
CASE PRESENTATION: An 81 year-old Hispanic male with hypertension, coronary artery bypass graft (LIMA to LAD and SVG to OM), congestive heart failure was admitted to the hospital for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Inflammatory markers were elevated with a D-Dimer level of 2.95 mg/mL. An EKG at that time showed normal sinus rhythm with a heart rate of 69 bpm and no ST-T wave abnormalities. Troponin-I level was unremarkable. He was started on remdesivir, steroids, and continuous heparin infusion. During hospital stay, the patient’s overall clinical status continued to improve. On day 9, the patient started complaining of 9/10 intensity, non-radiating substernal squeezing chest pain. He appeared diaphoretic. A STAT 12-lead EKG showed ST elevations in the inferior leads concerning for Inferior Wall MI (IWMI). The patient was immediately taken to the catheterization lab. The right coronary artery (RCA) had 99% stenosis with filling defect secondary to thrombus in its proximal, middle, and distal portion. Thrombus removal was achieved with a thrombectomy catheter and patient received two drug eluting stents (DES) in the proximal and distal RCA. The patient was continued on heparin infusion, aspirin 81mg daily, clopidogrel 75mg daily, and atorvastatin 80mg daily. He was discharged home two weeks later and had good outpatient follow up.
DISCUSSION: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is commonly encountered in patients with COVID-19 infection. About 40% of COVID-19 patients with STEMI had no evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) which excludes Type I Myocardial Infarction (MI). This suggests that a large proportion of patients had Type II MI. Our patient developed an occlusive thrombus requiring thrombectomy. It is difficult to know in this case whether the patient may have still suffered a STEMI without the hypercoagulable state from COVID-19 infection since he already had underlying CAD. Incidence rates of STEMI in patients with COVID-19 infection are variable (0.3-11%). Nonetheless, we can highlight the fact that SARS-CoV-19 remains a significant risk factor for STEMI. Acute thrombus formation causing STEMI is an uncommon occurrence.
CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the hypercoagulable state in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection and encourages clinicians to be mindful of the potential complications that can affect nearly all organ systems. It is important for clinicians to acknowledge that patients with COVID-19 infection may develop blood clots despite systemic anticoagulation. Further investigation is needed to address the management of these patients after thrombectomy.
Reference #1: Kermani-Alghoraishi, M. (2021). A Review of Coronary Artery Thrombosis: A New Challenging Finding in COVID-19 Patients and ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction. Current Problems in Cardiology, 46(3), 100744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2020.100744
Reference #2: Green, C., Nadir, A., Lester, W., & Dosanjh, D. (2021). Coronary artery thrombus resulting in ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a patient with COVID-19. BMJ Case Reports, 14(8), e243811. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2021-243811
Reference #3: Genovese, L., Ruiz, D., Tehrani, B., & Sinha, S. (2021). Acute coronary thrombosis as a complication of COVID-19. BMJ Case Reports, 14(3), e238218.
DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Utku Ekin
No relevant relationships by Rajapriya Manickam
No relevant relationships by Rutwik Patel