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Investigating von Willebrand Factor Pathophysiology Using a Flow Chamber Model of von Willebrand Factor-platelet String Formation
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Von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 activity as clinical severity markers in patients with COVID-19

A Marco1,2, P Marco3,4,5

  • 1Thrombosis and Hemostasis Department, Hematology Service, University General Hospital in Alicante, Alicante, Spain. marcoana@hotmail.com.

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis
|April 18, 2021
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 increases thrombotic risk. This study found that elevated von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen and reduced ADAMTS13 activity in COVID-19 patients correlate with disease severity and predict poor outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical research
  • Hematology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis.
  • The underlying mechanisms contributing to this prothrombotic state remain unclear.
  • Endothelial injury markers may play a role in COVID-19-related thrombotic complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen and ADAMTS13 activity as potential markers of endothelial injury in COVID-19 patients.
  • To assess the correlation between these markers and COVID-19 disease severity.
  • To investigate the predictive value of these markers for clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 50 COVID-19 inpatients and 102 outpatients.
  • Measurements included VWF antigen, ADAMTS13 activity, D-dimer, and fibrinogen.
  • Comparison groups included non-COVID-19 ward inpatients and healthy individuals.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 inpatients exhibited higher VWF antigen and lower ADAMTS13 activity compared to outpatients.
  • Intensive care unit (ICU) patients showed the highest VWF antigen and lowest ADAMTS13 activity.
  • An elevated VWF antigen/ADAMTS13 ratio was observed in COVID-19 patients, particularly in ICU cases.

Conclusions:

  • Increased VWF antigen and reduced ADAMTS13 activity are linked to COVID-19 severity.
  • These markers may predict poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
  • Reduced ADAMTS13 activity could serve as a specific marker for COVID-19 compared to other medical conditions.

Keywords:
ADAMTS13COVID-19Endothelial dysfunctionHypercoagulabilityVon Willebrand factor

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