Spontaneous muscle hematoma in older patients with COVID-19: two case reports and literature review

BMC Geriatr. 2020 Dec 22;20(1):539. doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-01963-4.

Abstract

Background: In late December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases due to a novel betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 was reported in China. The so-called COVID 19 is responsible not only for respiratory symptoms, from mild up to pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome, but also for extrapulmonary involvement.

Cases presentation: Here we present two cases of spontaneous muscle hematoma in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, both on therapeutic LMWH for atrial fibrillation: the first one was an 86-year-old Caucasian female with a history of hypertensive cardiomyopathy and the second one was an 81-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypertension, diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Blood tests revealed a considerable drop of hemoglobin and alterations of coagulation system. In both cases, embolization of femoral artery was performed. A few other cases of bleeding manifestations are reported in literature, while a lot has been published about the hypercoagulability related to COVID-19.

Conclusions: Our reports and literature review highlight the need of active surveillance for possible hemorrhagic complications in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case report; Endothelial dysfunction; Muscle haematoma; Vascular disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • China
  • Female
  • Hematoma* / diagnosis
  • Hematoma* / etiology
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscles
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight