Priapism in a patient on hemodialysis and with COVID-19. Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Priapism is rare in dialysis patients. It is associated with several risk factors inherent to therapy and kidney disease. This condition has been reported in severe COVID-19 cases, probably caused by coagulopathy secondary to the infection. However, it has not been reported in patients with mild COVID-19. Case presentation: A 65-year-old patient on hemodialysis and with mild COVID-19 presented with a 30-hour painful penile erection. Physical examination revealed an erection, but no other significant findings were observed. Based on the clinical history, physical examination and laboratory test results, the patient was diagnosed with ischemic priapism. Corpora cavernosa drainage was performed and two injections of epinephrine (each with a dose of 2mL of epinephrine solution 1/100 000) were administered, achieving complete resolution of the symptoms. Conclusions: At the time of writing this case report, there is no information available on cases of priapism in patients with mild manifestations of COVID-19, nor is it clear how the risk of thrombosis should be assessed in this group of patients. From a pathophysiological point of view, factors related to dialysis and kidney disease could have predisposed this patient to priapism, although the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection is uncertain. Therefore, further studies are required to confirm or rule out the association between COVID-19 and priapism in dialysis patients.