Platelet functions and activities as potential hematologic parameters related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19)

• Published in: Platelets (Edinburgh) Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 627 - 632
• Main Authors: Salamanna, Francesca, Maglio, Melania, Landini, Maria Paola, Fini, Milena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 03.07.2020
• Subjects: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Betacoronavirus; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Platelets - physiology; Blood Platelets - ultrastructure; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Coronavirus Infections - blood; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronavirus Infections - pathology; COVID-19; Cytokines - metabolism; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation - etiology; Drug Interactions; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - analysis; hematological parameters; Humans; Inflammation; Lung - pathology; Pandemics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - physiology; Platelet Count; Platelet Function Tests; platelets; Pneumonia, Viral - blood; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumonia, Viral - pathology; Prothrombin Time; Receptors, Virus - physiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - etiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - prevention & control; SARS-CoV-2; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - blood; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - pathology; Thrombophilia - blood; Thrombophilia - drug therapy; Thrombophilia - etiology; Venous Thrombosis - epidemiology; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Venous Thrombosis - pathology; Venous Thrombosis - prevention & control; COVID-19; platelets; hematological parameters
• ISSN: 0953-7104; 1369-1635
• DOI: 10.1080/09537104.2020.1762852

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease that currently lacks standardized and established laboratory markers to evaluate its severity. In COVID-19 patients, the number of platelets (PLTs) and dynamic changes of PLT-related parameters are currently a concern. The present paper discusses the potential link between PLT parameters and COVID-19. Several studies have identified a link between severe COVID-19 patients and specific coagulation index, in particular, high D-dimer level, prolonged prothrombin time, and low PLT count. These alterations reflect the hypercoagulable state present in severe COVID-19 patients, which could promote microthrombosis in the lungs, as well as in other organs. Further information and more advanced hematological parameters related to PLTs are needed to better estimate this link, also considering COVID-19 patients at different disease stages and stratified in different cohorts based on preexisting co-morbidity, age, and gender. Increasing the understanding of PLT functions in COVID-19 will undoubtedly improve our knowledge on disease pathogenesis, clinical management, and therapeutic options, but could also lead to the development of more precise therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 patients.