Aspirin use Reduces Platelet Hyperreactivity and Degranulation in COVID-19 Patients.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is spreading throughout the world at an alarming rate.[1] Severe disease is characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), frequently associated with thrombotic complications.[2] [3] Some studies report the presence of platelets in thrombi found in multiple organs of COVID-19 autopsy cases.[4] [5] Moreover, hyperreactive platelets and overwhelming generation of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., a condition also known as “cytokine storm”) are frequent in COVID-19 patients.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) could be detected in platelets of COVID-19 patients.[6] [10] [12] Despite these findings suggesting a role for platelets in the pathophysiology of COVID-19, the mechanisms of increased thrombotic events remain not completely elucidated.