In some cases of COVID-19, particularly those where rapid worsening of the disease is observed, it has been observed that infection with the new coronavirus may increase the risk of developing thromboembolic diseases, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism and intravascular coagulation. the person tends to form clots.
However, 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 and therefore produces an increase in thrombin, which is an enzyme responsible for blood clotting. Decide that when thrombin levels increase, there is a risk of clots forming, which can eventually clog blood vessels.
- Clot formation is a relatively common complication in patients who stay in bed for a long time.
- Especially when other associated diseases exist.
- Such as heart problems or lung disease.
- So patients entering the ICU generally have the highest risk of developing strokes.
- However.
- In the case of the new coronavirus.
- This clot-forming site in intensive care patients was higher.
One possible explanation appears to be the development of generalized intravascular coagulation, which is a condition in which microcoagulants form in all bodies and has been observed in the autopsies of some people infected with COVID-19.
In addition, clot complications have also occurred in some young adults infected with the new coronavirus who have not entered the intensive care unit; in these cases, increased clot formation has been attributed to an exaggerated immune system response to fighting the virus.
The exact cause is not yet known, but immune system overreaction may be related to macrophage activation syndrome, which has been observed in some young adults infected with the new coronavirus, who appear to have other diseases that could aggravate the infection, but have an increased risk of developing serious clotting problems, which may end up causing embolisms or strokes.
Macrophage activation syndrome is a condition that causes changes in immune system cells, resulting in uncontrolled T-cell production, excessive macrophage activation, and over-release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Generally, the diagnosis is the detection of ferritin, which is a high substance. in the presence of an exaggerated immune response.
When the immune system responds uncontrollably, particularly due to excessive activation of macrophages, it causes an exaggerated increase in thrombin, which is one of the most important proteins for the blood clotting system.
By increasing thrombin levels, this apparently increases the formation of blood clots; however, these clots end up clogging only one vessel of the leg, causing deep vein thrombosis, but if they enter the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism and even the brain can cause the appearance of a stroke, better known as stroke. Learn how to identify stroke symptoms and what to do in case of suspicion.
COVID-19 is a recent patient and many treatments are still in active phase worldwide.
However, in cases where thromboembolic diseases occur anticoagulants such as heparin are administered, which block the activation of thrombin, preventing blood clotting; used as heparin.
In addition, there is also a support for methotrexate, which is able to control the immune response, preventing it from being too exaggerated, especially in young adults.