NEW research has identified a possible mechanism for blood clotting issues in some Covid-19 patients.
A new study suggests a possible mechanism for the elevated presence of blood clots in Covid-19 patients.
The research may help clinicians develop more effective treatments for Covid-19.
The sudden emergence and rapid global spread of the new corona virus have meant clinical responses have focused on supporting those with severe infections, supplemented with emergency societal interventions, such as widespread social distancing, to reduce infection rates.
If this inflammation is severe, inflammatory material can collect in the bottom of a person’s lungs. This can make it difficult for them to gain enough oxygen into their blood, cause organs to shut down, and potentially lead to death.
However, in addition to this pneumonia-like reaction, clinicians have also noticed that patients with Covid-19 can develop organ damage in a way not directly linked to a lack of oxygen in the blood. This is particularly common in the kidneys and heart.
There is some evidence that a problem with blood coagulation causes this organ damage. Coagulation is the process where a person’s blood thickens. It is crucial in stopping a person from bleeding if they get a cut.
However, if a person’s blood coagulates too much or too little, they can have serious issues: too little, and they can develop internal or external bleeding, as seen inhemophilia. Too much and they could develop blood clots that can cause a stroke or heart attack.
COVID-19 LIVER DAMAGE MAY BE MORE COMMON THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT
Compared with hospitalized patients in China, a new study finds higher rates of abnormal liver tests among patients receiving treatment in hospitals in the United States. Higher levels of liver enzymes seem to be associated with an increased risk of admission to intensive care and death.
Researchers analyzed liver tests from 1,827 patients with Covid-19. All were admitted to Yale-New Haven Health hospitals between March 14 and April 23, 2020. These tests measure levels of enzymes that the liver releases into the bloodstream when it sustains damage.
An analysis of data from China suggests that around 15% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients had abnormal liver test results. However, 42–67% of the patients in the Yale study had abnormal tests upon admission to the hospital, depending on which of two enzymes the tests measured.
