Acute aortic thrombosis as a presenting feature of COVID-19: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Acute aortic thrombosis is an uncommon vascular emergency that can present with neurologic symptoms like acute paraplegia due to spinal cord ischemia. It frequently causes mortality unless appropriate diagnosis is followed immediately by proper management. Individuals with COVID-19 have coagulopathy with hyper inflammatory response which predisposes to both venous and arterial thrombotic events, especially in severe patients. We report a rare case of 63-year-old COVID-19 patient presenting as acute flaccid paraplegia with hematuria secondary to acute extensive aortic thrombus. CT scan showed bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia inspite of absence of respiratory symptoms. All patients with thrombotic events should be investigated for COVID-19 pneumonia as patients may not have typical respiratory symptoms.