Thrombotic complication in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: An underestimated phenomenon?

Abstract

Thrombotic complications are quite frequent during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, especially during severe disease and in hospitalized patients. The incidence of thrombotic complications in mild disease is not clear and probably few cases have been identified. We reported a case of a 60-year-old man with no previous history admitted to our unit for splenic infarct and a floating clot into the descending aorta without signs of severe disease. Several mechanisms to clarify prothrombotic state have been described. However, the exact prevalence of thromboembolic phenomenon is probably underestimated. There is no consensus about the treatment and the indications for preventing these complications in non-hospitalized patients. Thrombotic events should be suspected also in healthy patients with symptoms suggestive for coronavirus disease infection but without severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Further analysis should be performed to stratify the risk in nonhospitalized patients and the indications for prophylactic treatment.