Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Wuhan, China in 2019, there have been increasing reports of large vessel thrombosis and associated embolic stroke in patients with COVID-19 infection. The pathogenesis is thought to be multifactorial, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor-mediated endothelial damage, rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, cytokine-storm induced-inflammation, and hypercoagulability. Here, we present a case of an otherwise-healthy COVID-19 patient who developed a right common carotid artery thrombus and embolic stroke with left sided numbness and weakness. Blood tests were significant for elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers and di-dimer. Vessel imaging showed no evidence of underlying atherosclerosis or arterial dissection. Cardiac workup was unremarkable. The etiology of the carotid artery thrombus was likely COVID-19 related inflammation and hypercoagulability. He was started on apixaban 5mg twice daily for secondary stroke prevention. After 3 months, he was transitioned from apixaban to aspirin 81mg daily. At 4-month follow-up, he improved with only residual left arm numbness. Our case study suggests that in patients with large vessel thrombosis in the setting of Covid-19 infection, oral anticoagulation for 3 months followed by daily aspirin may be a reasonable treatment option for secondary stroke prevention.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China in 2019. [1] It is a viral illness that may manifest with symptoms involving multiple organs including the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system. [1,2] There have been numerous case reports of acute ischemic stroke from carotid artery thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 infection. [3-7] Large vessel thrombosis and embolic stroke were also reported in patients with COVID-19 infection and mild respiratory symptoms. [8] There appears to be a propensity towards the involvement of otherwise healthy large vessels. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 associated large vessel thrombosis is unclear, but emerging evidence suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor-mediated endothelial damage, rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, cytokine-storm induced-inflammation, or hypercoagulability may be the possible mechanisms. [9-10] Here, we present a case of common carotid artery thrombus and embolic stroke in an otherwise healthy COVID-19 patient without significant stroke risk factors. 

The patient is a 58-year-old male with no significant past medical history. He initially presented with headaches, cough, fever, and general malaise. Chest x-ray showed bilateral patchy infiltrates. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was positive for coronavirus 2 RNA. Blood tests showed elevated C reactive protein (7.35-18.97 mg/dL, reference range 0.00-1.00 mg/dL), ferritin (602-1334 ng/ml, reference range 23-233 ng/ml), lactate dehydrogenase (316 U/L, reference range 140-271 U/L), and d-dimer (590 ng/ml, reference range <500>40 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein 84 mg/dl (reference range <160>

Approximately 8 hours after the symptom onset, his left arm muscle strength deteriorated to 3/5 with decreased sensation in his left face, arm, and leg. A repeat MRI of the brain showed interval worsening of the infarctions in the right posterior parietal/occipital lobes (Figure, B). A CT Angiography of the head and neck revealed an intraluminal eccentric filling defect in the right common carotid artery consistent with an acute thrombus (Figure, C & D). There was no underlying arterial dissection or atherosclerotic disease. Given that there was no large vessel occlusion, and that his neurological deficits were very mild, neither endovascular thrombectomy nor carotid endarterectomy was indicated. The patient was started on therapeutic doses of anticoagulation with apixaban 5mg twice a day for secondary stroke prevention3 and atorvastatin 20 mg daily for mild dyslipidemia with goal of low-density lipoprotein <70>

.

The patient had a clinic follow-up 2 weeks after his stroke. His left arm weakness resolved completely but he continued to have residual numbness of the left face and arm. After 3 months, he was transitioned from apixaban to aspirin 81mg daily. At 4-month follow-up, he only had residual left arm numbness. He had no recurrent stroke. 

The etiology of the common carotid artery thrombosis and associated embolic stroke in our otherwise healthy patient was likely COVID-19 related inflammation and hypercoagulable state. [9,10]

In a case series of 6 patients with COVID-19 related internal carotid artery thrombus and embolic stroke, all patients were found to have vascular risk factors and elevated inflammatory biomarkers. [6] COVID-19 related inflammation may result in the rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, resulting in thrombosis and acute ischemic stroke in these patients. [2,6] However, a large meta-analysis of COVID-19 related ischemic stroke found that 46.5% patients had large vessel occlusion and only 7.39% patients were atherothrombotic in etiology. [10] Similar to our case, many patients appeared to have thrombi in otherwise healthy large vessels. [7-8]

Currently, there is no consensus on the management of COVID-19 related large vessel thrombosis and associated embolic stroke. There have been case reports of treatment with intravenous tPA, thrombectomy, or carotid endarterectomy followed by antiplatelet or anticoagulation theapy. [3-8] Large thrombus is often associated with higher risk of complete artery occlusion or distal embolization in the middle cerebral artery. A recent case report showed complete resolution of Covid-19 related large vessel thrombi in 5 patients with 10 days of anticoagulation therapy. [3] Our patient was not a candidate for intravenous tPA or thrombectomy. Hence, we started apixaban 5mg twice daily for secondary stroke prevention. Since the thrombosis was provoked by COVID-19 infection, anticoagulation for 3-months followed by aspirin appears to be reasonable treatment plan. 

Of note, our case study has significant limitations. First, our findings lack scientific rigor and cannot be generalized to the COVID-19 related stroke population. Second, data interpretation might be biased. However, our case report may contribute useful information to better understanding and management of carotid artery thrombus and stroke in the setting of COVID-19 infection. 

Our case study suggests that COVID-19 related inflammation and hypercoagulable state may cause common carotid artery thrombus and embolic stroke. Oral anticoagulation for 3-months followed by daily aspirin may be a reasonable treatment option for secondary stroke prevention.