An 89-Year-Old Man with COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy Presenting with a Prolonged Partial Thromboplastin Time, Lupus Anticoagulant, and a High Titer of Factor VIII Inhibitor

Am J Case Rep. 2020 Oct 30:21:e926728. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.926728.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Coagulation abnormalities are frequently encountered in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in those with more severe disease. These hematologic abnormalities are suspected to occur in the context of underlying immune dysregulation and endothelial dysfunction. Elevated D-dimer levels, COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and positive lupus anticoagulants are the most common findings to date. Current guidelines suggest that all patients with COVID-19 should receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. CASE REPORT An 89-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and advanced prostate cancer in remission presented with generalized weakness. At our center, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test was positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, but the patient did not have symptoms of COVID-19. He was also found to have a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, secondary to both a high titer of factor VIII inhibitor and a lupus anticoagulant. He eventually developed respiratory compromise, during which his disease manifested as a bleeding rather than a prothrombotic state. CONCLUSIONS This report highlights the importance of a comprehensive evaluation of prolonged partial thromboplastin time, rather than making an assumption based on a positive lupus anticoagulant result. In the case presented, the concomitant factor VIII inhibitor caused the patient to have a greater bleeding tendency. It is imperative that physicians balance the risk of bleeding and clotting in patients with COVID-19 because patients seem to have varying presentations based on disease severity and level of immune dysregulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / blood
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / etiology*
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • Factor VIII / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / blood*
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • Factor VIII