Platelet aggregates, a marker of severe COVID-19 disease
Alexandros Rampotas, Sue Pavord
Abstract
Thrombocytopenia is common in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting due to endogenous and iatrogenic factors. Despite that, thrombocytopenia in patients with severe COVID-19 infections is surprisingly uncommon. By examining the blood film of 20 ICU patients with COVID-19, we observed the presence of platelet aggregates and macrothrombocytes indicating increased platelet activity. We compared these findings with 20 blood films of non-severe COVID-19 cases where these findings were absent. These morphology features could be consistent with severe COVID-19 infection and is further evidence of the important role that platelets play when COVID-19 manifests with thrombotic complications or respiratory failure.
Topics & Concepts
PlateletCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Intensive care unitMedicineSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakDiseaseInternal medicineImmunologyPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesPlatelet Disorders and TreatmentsInflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis