COVID-19 may predispose patients to thrombotic, thromboembolic disease

Editor's Note

COVID-19 may predispose patients to venous and arterial thrombotic disease because of excessive inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, and stasis, this study finds.

Though a recent document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in patients receiving antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants, there is no evidence that these drugs increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 or of developing severe COVID-19.

It is important to consider, however, the preventive and therapeutic use of antithrombotic agents to mitigate thrombotic and hemorrhagic events in these high-risk patients as well as interactions between investigational drugs for COVID-19 and commonly administered oral anticoagulants. Special attention also should be given to patients with pre-existing thromboembolic disease who have limited access to care in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researches concluded that thrombotic disease may be precedent factors or incident complications in patients with COVID-19. More data and higher-quality data are required to learn how COVID-19 and thrombotic disease interact.