Sagittal sinus thrombosis with subarachnoid haemorrhage in a patient with COVID-19 infection

BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Jan 27;16(1):e249501. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-249501.

Abstract

A man in his late 50s was admitted with a 10-day history of right frontotemporal headache, left arm and leg weakness, and a sudden decline in visual acuity in the right eye. The patient had recent exposure to COVID-19 infection and tested positive for the same on admission. A CT scan of the head done on arrival demonstrated a subarachnoid haemorrhage in the right central sulcus with an underlying superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. No other known risk factors for central venous sinus thrombosis could be identified. The patient had a normal level of consciousness on admission clinically; however, he was in severe pain. A collective decision was made to administer anticoagulants to the patient with heparin after carefully deliberating the risk-to-benefit ratio of a superior sagittal thrombus with an associated subarachnoid haemorrhage. Our patient recovered and was discharged after 2 weeks on warfarin. We present this case to highlight the potential risks of hypercoagulable and neurotropic complications of COVID-19 infections, with special emphasis on cerebral venous thrombosis.

Keywords: COVID-19; Neurological injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Cranial Sinuses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis* / etiology
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* / drug therapy
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial* / etiology
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / etiology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants