A Peculiar Case of Priapism: The Hypercoagulable State in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection

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.