COVID-19 Infection Raising Suspicions of a Connection between Vascular Damage and Thrombus Formation

Intern Med. 2024 Sep 15;63(18):2567-2570. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3897-24. Epub 2024 Jul 4.

Abstract

Although endothelial damage has been hypothesized to be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cerebral infarction based on the specificity of the viral cellular invasion pathway, no case has been reported to date. We herein report a 51-year-old Japanese woman who presented with neck pain one week after COVID-19 infection. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed inflammation of the carotid and vertebral arteries. Ultrasonography revealed multiple flap-like structures that were assumed to be thrombi. Although the patient had no cerebral infarction, this could be an important case of vascular damage and thrombus formation in a COVID-19 patient.

Keywords: COVID-19; TIPIC syndrome; coronavirus disease 2019; vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Thrombosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombosis* / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging