A Unique Case of Unprovoked Pulmonary Venous Thrombosis in a Postpartum Female Following COVID-19 Infection

Cureus. 2024 Jul 19;16(7):e64893. doi: 10.7759/cureus.64893. eCollection 2024 Jul.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 can induce a hypercoagulable state, occasionally resulting in pulmonary venous thrombosis (PVT) due to inflammation and endothelial injury. Documented cases of PVT with active COVID-19 and post-COVID are rare. We report a 40-year-old postpartum female with unprovoked PVT following a recent nonhospitalized COVID-19 infection. She presented with cough, right pleuritic chest pain, and worsening dyspnea. Imaging confirmed right lower lobe PVT with ground glass infiltrates. Despite a negative hypercoagulable workup, the patient's postpartum and post-COVID status suggest an unprovoked PVT. Treated with a high-intensity heparin drip and transition to apixaban, she showed resolution of the thrombus. This case underscores the importance of considering COVID-19 as a potential risk factor for venous thromboembolism and highlights the need for vigilant monitoring in post-COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: apixaban; pleurisy; post covid-19; postpartum; pulmonary vein thrombosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports