Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Severe COVID-19: a Case Report

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has brought an unprecedented upheaval in our health-care systems. Amongst the many challenges posed by the disease, increased risk of thromboembolism has presented a distinct new front for increased mortality and morbidity. While there are multiple documented evidences for the same, the exact mechanism, knowledge of groups at-risk, and mitigation strategies are evolving. We present a case of a young individual who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), was started on appropriate chemotherapy, and subsequently developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia. He was treated for COVID-19 pneumonia and recovered from the illness. However, his recovery from COVID-19 was further complicated by cortical venous sinus thrombosis (CVT). Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI) brain and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) revealed the diagnosis of CVT with hemorrhagic parenchymal changes. He was managed with therapeutic anticoagulation and cerebral decongestants and was subsequently shifted to oral anticoagulant therapy. While the case was managed at a tertiary care setting, it opened up the question of identifying the high-risk groups and to formulate guidelines for extended thromboprophylaxis in these patients.