Platelets (May 2021)

Over time relationship between platelet reactivity, myocardial injury and mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated respiratory failure

  • Gianluca Campo,
  • Marco Contoli,
  • Alberto Fogagnolo,
  • Francesco Vieceli Dalla Sega,
  • Ottavio Zucchetti,
  • Luca Ronzoni,
  • Marco Verri,
  • Francesca Fortini,
  • Rita Pavasini,
  • Luca Morandi,
  • Simone Biscaglia,
  • Luca Di Ienno,
  • Emanuele D’Aniello,
  • Marco Manfrini,
  • Roberto Zoppellari,
  • Paola Rizzo,
  • Roberto Ferrari,
  • Carlo Alberto Volta,
  • Alberto Papi,
  • Savino Spadaro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09537104.2020.1852543
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 32, no. 4
pp. 560 – 567

Abstract

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The aim of this study (NCT04343053) is to investigate the relationship between platelet activation, myocardial injury, and mortality in patients affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Fifty-four patients with respiratory failure due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were enrolled as cases. Eleven patients with the same clinical presentation, but negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection, were included as controls. Blood samples were collected at three different time points (inclusion [T1], after 7 ± 2 days [T2] and 14 ± 2 days [T3]). Platelet aggregation by light transmittance aggregometry and the circulating levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and P-selectin were measured. Platelet biomarkers did not differ between cases and controls, except for sCD40L which was higher in COVID-19 patients (p = .003). In COVID-19 patients, P-selectin and sCD40L levels decreased from T1 to T3 and were higher in cases requiring admission to intensive care unit (p = .004 and p = .008, respectively). Patients with myocardial injury (37%), as well as those who died (30%), had higher values of all biomarkers of platelet activation (p < .05 for all). Myocardial injury was an independent predictor of mortality. In COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital for respiratory failure, heightened platelet activation is associated with severity of illness, myocardial injury, and mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04343053.

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