One of the most concerning revelations from the COVID-19 pandemic is that the virus extends far beyond the lungs, affecting the vascular system. Leading U.S. physicians have observed that SARS-CoV-2 can trigger blood clots in vessels, leading to serious conditions like phlebitis, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and strokes—even in patients with no prior risk factors.
From initial reports in China and Europe to now the United States, medical professionals are documenting these effects in real time. “I've seen hundreds of cases of clots in my career, but I've never seen so many extreme abnormal cases,” Behnood Bikdeli, an internal medicine specialist at Columbia University Medical Center, told AFP.
Clot incidence has doubled in the U.S. since the pandemic began, affecting even younger patients. Broadway actor Nick Cordero, 41, underwent right leg amputation after 18 days in intensive care in Los Angeles due to an immovable clot. While anticoagulants are standard treatment, they don't always succeed and can lead to internal bleeding, as seen in Cordero's case.
The exact mechanism remains under investigation. It could stem from patients' preexisting cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions, says Dr. Bikdeli. Alternatively, the virus's intense inflammatory response may play a role—“Any acute disease predisposes to clot formation,” he notes. Direct viral impact on coagulation is another possibility, though unproven at this stage.
