Acute pulmonary embolism in a patient with mild COVID-19 symptoms: a case report.

COVID-19 Case report Oral contraceptive pills Pulmonary embolism SARS-CoV-2 Venous thromboembolic disease

Journal

European heart journal. Case reports
ISSN: 2514-2119
Titre abrégé: Eur Heart J Case Rep
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101730741

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jan 2021
Historique:
received: 17 08 2020
revised: 02 09 2020
accepted: 16 12 2020
entrez: 1 2 2021
pubmed: 2 2 2021
medline: 2 2 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent condition, which may worsen the prognosis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, the incidence of this complication is unknown in patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms. A 26-year-old female nurse, who had been taking oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) treatment for the last 2 years, developed mild COVID-19 symptoms (rhinitis and anosmia). She underwent isolation at home and was subsequently followed up with telehealth visits. Fifteen days after her initial presentation, she developed acute onset sudden dyspnoea. On physical examination, she was found to be tachycardic with normal pulse oximetry. The initial risk score for VTE was moderate and laboratory results showed increased D-dimer level without other relevant findings. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography was performed, which confirmed low-risk subsegmental pulmonary embolism. Venous thromboembolism in patients who present with severe COVID-19 symptoms has already been described in the literature; its incidence is greater in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Efforts to prevent VTE based on risk scores are widely recognized. However, the relationship in patients who present with mild COVID-19 symptoms and VTE is still unknown. Recently, experts on this field have introduced thromboprophylaxis guidelines including ambulatory patients based on the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and pro-thrombotic risk. Our patient showed no major risk for developing VTE; therefore, the VTE could be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or the eventual pro-thrombotic association with the concomitant use of OCPs.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent condition, which may worsen the prognosis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, the incidence of this complication is unknown in patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
CASE SUMMARY METHODS
A 26-year-old female nurse, who had been taking oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) treatment for the last 2 years, developed mild COVID-19 symptoms (rhinitis and anosmia). She underwent isolation at home and was subsequently followed up with telehealth visits. Fifteen days after her initial presentation, she developed acute onset sudden dyspnoea. On physical examination, she was found to be tachycardic with normal pulse oximetry. The initial risk score for VTE was moderate and laboratory results showed increased D-dimer level without other relevant findings. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography was performed, which confirmed low-risk subsegmental pulmonary embolism.
DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
Venous thromboembolism in patients who present with severe COVID-19 symptoms has already been described in the literature; its incidence is greater in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. Efforts to prevent VTE based on risk scores are widely recognized. However, the relationship in patients who present with mild COVID-19 symptoms and VTE is still unknown. Recently, experts on this field have introduced thromboprophylaxis guidelines including ambulatory patients based on the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and pro-thrombotic risk. Our patient showed no major risk for developing VTE; therefore, the VTE could be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or the eventual pro-thrombotic association with the concomitant use of OCPs.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33521514
doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa563
pii: ytaa563
pmc: PMC7819833
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

ytaa563

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Références

Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2018 Jul;24(5):797-802
pubmed: 28884608
Eur Heart J. 2020 Jan 21;41(4):543-603
pubmed: 31504429
Eur Radiol. 2020 Nov;30(11):6170-6177
pubmed: 32518989
Am J Hematol. 2020 Jul;95(7):834-847
pubmed: 32282949
Blood. 2020 Sep 10;136(11):1317-1329
pubmed: 32573711
J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Aug;18(8):1995-2002
pubmed: 32369666
Thromb Res. 2020 Jul;191:145-147
pubmed: 32291094
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Jun 16;75(23):2950-2973
pubmed: 32311448
Endocrinology. 2020 Dec 1;161(12):
pubmed: 32725207
N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 30;382(18):1708-1720
pubmed: 32109013
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 Jun 30;56:173-177
pubmed: 32637095
BMJ. 2013 Sep 12;347:f5298
pubmed: 24030561
Intensive Care Med. 2020 Jun;46(6):1089-1098
pubmed: 32367170
Circulation. 2020 Jul 14;142(2):184-186
pubmed: 32330083
Cardiovasc Res. 2020 Aug 1;116(10):1666-1687
pubmed: 32352535

Auteurs

Norberto B Fiorini (NB)

Tte, Gral, Juan Domingo Perón N° 4190, CABA CP C1199ABB, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Fernando Garagoli (F)

Tte, Gral, Juan Domingo Perón N° 4190, CABA CP C1199ABB, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Rosana C Bustamante (RC)

Tte, Gral, Juan Domingo Perón N° 4190, CABA CP C1199ABB, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Rodolfo Pizarro (R)

Tte, Gral, Juan Domingo Perón N° 4190, CABA CP C1199ABB, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Classifications MeSH