key: cord-0685243-ac5db4ac
authors: Parekh, Maria A; DeLaGarza, Carlos; Johnson, Jeremiah
title: Common carotid macrothrombosis causing acute ischaemic stroke in a patient with COVID-19
date: 2021-07-27
journal: BMJ Case Rep
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-245081
sha: 64ed36c2b70a96d71f10be41f9fa85845c672a34
doc_id: 685243
cord_uid: ac5db4ac

nan

A 50-year-old woman with a medical history significant only for well-controlled hypertension and recent SARS-CoV-2-positive test presented as a stroke alert for aphasia and right hemiparesis with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 20. She was out of the window for thrombolytic therapy. CT head did not reveal any acute abnormalities, with an ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) of 10. CT angiogram demonstrated a focal area of soft plaque within the left common carotid artery, for which the patient was taken to the angiography suite immediately. A diagnostic cerebral angiogram revealed a non-occlusive nonflow-limiting thrombus within the left common carotid artery measuring approximately 2.5 cm caudal to the left carotid bifurcation (figure 1), with additional findings of a regional perfusion defect within the left M4 cortical branches suspected to be embolic from the carotid thrombus. Thrombectomy was not attempted given concern of clot fragility and the high risk of fragmentation and emboli during manipulation. A non-contrast MRI brain revealed ischaemic infarct in the left distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory and external watershed zones of the anterior cerebral artery/ MCA and MCA/posterior cerebral artery (figure 2). Standard serological tests and coagulation markers were sent in addition to standard stroke etiological workup, without any radiographic or echocardiographic evidence of a proximal source of thromboembolism, and the aetiology of her stroke was attributed to macrothrombosis secondary to SARS-CoV-2-related endotheliopathy. She was initiated on heparin infusion and later transitioned to apixaban, which she continued on discharge to inpatient rehabilitation. Follow-up in clinic was planned after repeat CT angiography to document thrombus resolution.

Prior studies have shown that the extent of coagulopathy correlates with severity of respiratory illness, 1 predominant sequelae of which include venous thromboembolic events, end-organ failure secondary to a microangiopathy believed to be similar to disseminated intravascular coagulation, 2 and stroke which was seen in 5.7% of those with critical illness in comparison to 0.8% of those with milder COVID-19 disease. 3 Tested for suspected exposure to SARS-CoV-2, our patient had no respiratory or infectious symptoms, suggesting that in addition to the previously characterised venous thrombosis and microangiopathy associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, there may also be a tendency towards large-vessel arterial thrombosis, which may be secondary to virally mediated disruption of the endothelium causing endotheliitis. 4 A case series of three SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with mild respiratory symptoms and stroke secondary to large-vessel thrombosis without occlusion has been previously reported, 5 with the aetiology of coagulopathy attributed to virus-mediated endotheliopathy. Given the significant implications for primary and secondary stroke prevention in patients with COVID-19, further systematic studies are needed to establish the role of anti-inflammatory agents and anticoagulants, if any.

Contributors All authors contributed equally to the conception and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data, and approved the final version for publication. CDLG and MAP drafted the article, and MAP and JJ revised it critically for important intellectual content. The corresponding author, MAP, takes full responsibility for the data, interpretation and the conduct of the research; has full access to all of the data; and has the right to publish any and all data separate and apart from any sponsor. 

Anticoagulant treatment is associated with decreased mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients with coagulopathy

Will complement inhibition be the new target in treating COVID-19-Related systemic thrombosis?

Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China

Endothelial cell infection and endotheliitis in COVID-19

Macrothrombosis and stroke in patients with mild Covid-19 infection

► Mechanisms of coagulopathy in SARS-CoV-2 infection include previously characterised venous thrombosis and microangiopathy, with the extent of coagulopathy correlating to the severity of respiratory symptoms, as demonstrated by stroke inflicting 5.7% of critically ill patients compared with 0.8% with milder COVID-19 disease. ► Coagulopathy in the absence of respiratory symptoms in a patient with COVID-19 suggests a tendency toward largevessel arterial thrombosis, secondary to virally mediated endotheliitis, as demonstrated in this case.Copyright 2021 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved. For permission to reuse any of this content visit https://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/permissions/ BMJ Case Report Fellows may re-use this article for personal use and teaching without any further permission.Become a Fellow of BMJ Case Reports today and you can: ► Submit as many cases as you like ► Enjoy fast sympathetic peer review and rapid publication of accepted articles ► Access all the published articles ► Re-use any of the published material for personal use and teaching without further permission

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