A case of dvt and pe and cardiac arrest in a patient with factor v leiden mutation and covid

ABSTRACT

Introduction Heterozygous Factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation is the most common inherited thrombophilia, most common in people of Northern European descent and in some Middle Eastern population. It increases risk of developing a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by 5-to 7-fold, and is considered a weak risk factor, and most people never develop blood clots. Case report 19-year-old woman presented with left lower quadrant abdominal pain, left groin pain, chest tightness and shortness of breath that had started 1 week prior to presentation. Patient had tested positive for COVID-19 six months but had only minor symptoms and recovered without needing treatment. She had completed 2nd dose of Moderna Covid vaccine two weeks ago and had been using oral contraceptive pills (OCP) for two years. Family history was significant for a paternal uncle with history of blood clots. Physical exam revealed swelling and erythema in left lower extremity up to groin area. Doppler ultrasound showed an acute DVT in the left external iliac vein, common femoral vein, deep femoral vein, superficial femoral vein, and proximal popliteal vein. Spiral computed tomography imaging of chest showed pulmonary emboli (PE) in the segmental branches of the pulmonary arteries with mild dilation of the right ventricle. Cardiac echogram (TTE) showed intact right ventricular function. Patient underwent mechanical aspiration thrombectomy with extirpation of DVT, but the procedure was complicated by PEA arrest requiring CPR for about 50-60 mins. During episode, bedside TTE showed evidence of right ventricular dilation and RV strain concerning for a massive PE. She was cannulated for V-A ECMO then underwent therapeutic hypothermia, and was successfully decannulated after six days. Patient eventually recovered and was neurologically intact. She was discharged home on warfarin and aspirin. Hypercoagulable work-up was remarkable for heterozygous FVL mutation R506Q. Both her father and mother were found to have heterozygous FVL mutation and her sister was found to have homozygous FVL mutation. Discussion People with FVL have additional risk factors that contribute to the development of DVT, and FVL alone does not increase the risk of developing arterial thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes. DVTs in heterozygous FVL population are considered provoked DVTs requiring anti-coagulation for a definite period, like that in general population. Curiously, patients with severe COVID-19 infection requiring ventilator support were found to have factor V levels high above the normal reference range and were found to have elevated risk for blood clots. Use of OCPs, and perhaps a recent COVID infection, although mostly asymptomatic, might have contributed to hypercoagulability in our patient. FVL mutation is not considered a contraindication to having COVID vaccination and patients with hereditary clotting disorders are recommended to have the vaccine.