It is increasingly recognised that patients with severe COVID-19 infection have a significant risk of thromboembolic events. We describe a patient who rapidly deteriorated due to severe infection with COVID-19, and developed priapism in the last days of his life. We believe development of priapism may be associated with a prothrombotic state secondary to COVID-19 infection. This case report supports the widely reported increased incidence of thrombosis in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Learning points:
Prophylactic doses of anticoagulation may not be sufficient in patients with severe COVID-19 infection, but clinical trials of therapeutic dose anticoagulation are underway.Physicians should be vigilant and have a high suspicion for thrombosis in all patients with COVID-19 infection, even those who are anticoagulated.Presentations of thromboembolism and microemboli may be atypical.