Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Author Spotlight: A Novel Method for Comprehensive Cell Component Analysis of Cerebral Blood Clots
06:12

Author Spotlight: A Novel Method for Comprehensive Cell Component Analysis of Cerebral Blood Clots

Published on: July 21, 2023

897

Emerging evidence of a COVID-19 thrombotic syndrome has treatment implications

Joan T Merrill1, Doruk Erkan2, Jerald Winakur3

  • 1Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. joan-merrill@omrf.org.

Nature Reviews. Rheumatology
|August 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) associated thromboses may not be disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This condition resembles complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndromes, requiring different treatments than standard DIC protocols.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Increasing reports link coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) to thrombotic events.
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is frequently suspected, but atypical features are noted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate COVID-19 associated thromboses from typical DIC.
  • To explore potential similarities with complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndromes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of key clinical and laboratory features in COVID-19 patients with thrombosis.
  • Comparison of COVID-19 thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) features with established TMA syndromes.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 thromboses show minimal bleeding risk and mild thrombocytopenia.
  • Elevated fibrinogen and detection of SARS-CoV-2 and complement in thrombotic areas were observed.
  • The disorder's profile diverges significantly from classic DIC.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 associated thromboses are distinct from DIC and resemble complement-mediated TMA.
  • Standard DIC treatments (anticoagulation, antivirals) may be insufficient for these TMA syndromes.
  • Ineffective immune responses in COVID-19 may link to severe pneumonia and life-threatening microangiopathy.

More Related Videos

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques06:29

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques

Published on: June 11, 2019

10.8K
In Vitro Microfluidic Disease Model to Study Whole Blood-Endothelial Interactions and Blood Clot Dynamics in Real-Time09:19

In Vitro Microfluidic Disease Model to Study Whole Blood-Endothelial Interactions and Blood Clot Dynamics in Real-Time

Published on: May 24, 2020

9.5K

Related Concept Videos

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
184
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
186
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
1.4K
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction01:30

Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction

Venous thrombosis, the most common disorder of the veins, involves the formation of a thrombus or blood clot associated with vein inflammation. It can be classified as either superficial vein thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis.Superficial Vein Thrombosis: This involves the formation of a thrombus in a superficial vein, usually the greater or lesser saphenous vein. Though less severe than deep vein thrombosis (DVT), SVT can lead to complications if untreated.Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This...
168
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:29

Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...
157
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
1.8K