Understanding Blood Clot Formation in COVID-19 Patients

Global studies reporting the prevalence of blood clot formation known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients around 14-28 per cent and 2-5 per cent for arterial thrombosis are considered as a significant cause of death.

The virus invades these blood vessels affecting the inner lining to produce a dysfunction within the blood vessels, producing these clots.

Blood Clots - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
An abnormal blood clot forms when there is damage to the lining of an artery or stagnation of blood in a vein; it obstructs the normal circulation of blood. A clot can form even in the absence of a cut.

‘Fresh insights about blood clot formation led to new therapies for COVID-19.’

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To understand these clot formations recent research published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences shows that the balance between von Willebrand Factor (VWF)(blood clotting factor) and its regulator is disrupted in severe COVID-19 patients.

When compared to control groups, higher levels of the pro-clotting VWF molecules and lower levels of the anti-clotting ADAMTS13 regulator molecule with changes in proteins are identified in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

"Our research helps provide insights into the mechanisms that cause severe blood clots in patients with Covid-19, which is critical to developing more effective treatments," said Dr Jamie O'Sullivan, the study's corresponding author and research lecturer within the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology at RCSI.

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This breakthrough finding necessitates more research focusing on correcting the levels of ADAMTS13 and VWF can be a successful therapeutic intervention for severe COVID-19 patients.

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Source-Medindia

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