Case Report: Glans penile necrosis in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 and leprosy infection

TL;DR

A patient with both SARS-CoV-2 and leprosy developed penile necrosis, possibly due to blood clotting issues, and improved with treatment.

Contribution

This case report highlights a unique co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and leprosy leading to glans penile necrosis without vascular occlusion.

Findings

The patient showed significant improvement after receiving low molecular weight heparin therapy.

Microthrombi, platelet abnormalities, and impaired hemostasis are hypothesized as contributing factors.

No evidence of penile blood flow occlusion was found in radiographic imaging.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was firstly identified in China and has been declared a global pandemic. Several serious extrapulmonary manifestations due to SARS-CoV-2 infection have also been reported and associated with hypercoagulability thrombotic vasculopathy. In addition, cases of
Mycobacterium-leprae infection have also been known associated with blood coagulation abnormality.

Methods: Here, we report a 56-year-old male with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) with concomitant leprosy infection with manifestation of glans penile necrosis, presented to the emergency department with acute penile pain. This case is unique because no occlusion blood flow to the penile was observed in the radiographic imaging. We described the potential pathophysiology in this case through a literature review.

Results: The patient received treatment according to the COVID-19 protocol and was given low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) therapy for 4 days. During the follow up, the clinical and functional condition of the penis showed significant improvement.

Conclusions: Microthrombus involvement, platelet abnormalities and impaired hemostasis due to SARS-CoV-2 and leprosy co-infection are the hypothesis in this case report.

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