Systemic thrombolysis and anticoagulation improved biomarker measurements in massive-like pulmonary embolism and severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

From asymptomatic patients to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, COVID-19 has a wide range of clinical presentations, and venous thromboembolism has emerged as a critical and frequent complication.

Case summary

We present a case of a 69-year-old man with a clinical presentation of massive-like pulmonary embolism (PE) overlapping with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The diagnosis was made based on hypotension, severe oxygen desaturation (33%), and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD). We used alteplase and low-molecular-weight heparin, obtaining immediate clinical improvement. Also, we identified an extremely elevated D-dimer (31.2 mcg/mL), and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) revealed an unexpected low thrombus burden and a crazy-paving pattern.

SUBMITTER: Betancourt-Del Campo H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7891287 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature