In some people with COVID-19, particularly those with a rapidly worsening infection, a new complication has been observed, including an increased risk of developing clot-induced diseases such as deep vein thrombosis, stroke or pulmonary embolism.
Although the exact cause of this new complication is not yet known, it may be related to an exaggerated immune system response to combat the new coronavirus, which may eventually contribute to the increase in thrombin, the protein responsible for blood clotting.when thrombin levels increase, the higher the risk of clot formation, which can eventually clog blood vessels.
- Clot formation is a relatively common complication in bedside patients over a long period of time.
- Especially when other associated diseases exist.
- Such as heart problems or lung disease For example.
- Patients admitted to the ICU generally already have an increased risk of developing strokes.
- However.
- In the case of the new coronavirus.
- This rate of clot formation in intensive care patients was higher.
One possible explanation appears to be the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation, which is a condition in which microcoagulants form throughout the body and has been observed in autopsies of some people infected with COVID-19.
In addition, clot complications have also arisen in some young adults infected with the new coronavirus who have not been admitted into intensive care, in these cases the increased clot formation has been attributed to an exaggerated immune system response to fight the virus..
The exact cause is not yet known, but the exaggerated immune system reaction may be related to macrophage activation syndrome, which has been observed in some young adults infected with the new coronavirus.These young adults don’t seem to have other diseases that can make the infection worse, but they have an increased risk of developing severe bleeding problems, which can eventually lead to embolism or stroke.
Macrophage activation syndrome is a condition that causes alterations in immune system cells, causing uncontrolled production of T cells, excessive activation of macrophages and exaggerated release of pro-inflammatory substances; Diagnosis of this syndrome can usually be made by evaluating ferritin levels in the blood, as it is a superior substance in the presence of an increased immune response.
When the immune system responds uncontrollably, especially with excessive activation of macrophages, it causes an exaggerated increase in thrombin, which is one of the most important proteins for the blood clotting system.
Quando os níveis de trombina aumentam, parece haver uma maior formação de coágulos sanguíneos. Muitas vezes, esses coágulos acabam entupindo apenas um vaso da perna, causando trombose venosa profunda, mas caso consigam chegar no pulmão, podem causar uma embolia pulmonar e, caso cheguem ao cérebro, podem levar ao aparecimento de um AVC. Saiba como identificar os sintomas de AVC e o que fazer em caso de suspeita.
COVID-19 is a recent disease and, as a result, its treatment continues to undergo small changes over time, especially as many forms of treatment and new medicines continue to be tested around the world.
However, given the data on increasing the number of cases of clot disease, treatment may include, for some people, the use of anticoagulants, namely heparin, which work by blocking the action of thrombin and therefore pre-coagulation of the blood and clot formation.Find out how heparin is used.
In addition, another substance, methotrexate, can also be associated, able to control the immune response, preventing it from being too exaggerated, especially in young adults.