ISSN: 1449-1907International Journal of Medical Sciences
Global reach, higher impact
Int J Med Sci 2023; 20(1):136-141. doi:10.7150/ijms.78911 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Inflammation as an exacerbation marker and target for prophylaxis against Coronavirus Disease 2019-related thrombosis
1. Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan.
2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan.
3. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan.
4. Department of General Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan.
Abstract
Objectives: There are currently no appropriate markers and target for prophylaxis against COVID-19-related thrombosis, especially in the not-severe cases. We tested the hypothesis that inflammation is a suitable marker and target for prophylaxis against COVID-19-related thrombosis.
Methods: Data of all 32 COVID-19 patients admitted to Saitama Medical Center between January 1 and March 30, 2021, were analyzed. Patients were divided into severe (requiring oxygen, n=12) and non-severe (no requirement for oxygen, n=20), and also those with high C-reactive protein (CRP) level (cutoff value: 30 mg/L, n=21) and low-CRP (n=11). We also compared the clinical and laboratory data of a 46-year-old post-liver transplant male patient, who was treated with a combination of immunosuppressants (methylprednisolone, fludrocortisone, cyclosporine, and everolimus) with those of other COVID-19 patients, using the Smirnoff-Grubbs and Box plots tests.
Results: The levels of CRP, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) were significantly higher in the high-severity group than the low-severity group; while other coagulation parameters were comparable. The time between onset of illness and blood levels of lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen, D-dimer, TAT, and plasmin alpha2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) were significantly higher whereas lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the high-CRP group. Extremely low levels of TAT, PIC, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were recorded in the liver transplant patient treated with immunosuppressants. The TAT, PIC, and PAI-1 levels were deemed outliers.
Conclusions: Inflammation is a potentially suitable marker and target for prophylaxis against COVID-19-related thrombosis.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, inflammation, thrombosis, Immunosuppressants, liver transplant
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