Changes in the microcirculation of the oral mucosa in post-COVID-19 patients not receiving anti-coagulant therapy

Abstract

Introduction. The outbreak of a new coronavirus infection has become a challenge for the global health system. The COVID-19 infection is directly related to various disorders of the cardiovascular system, including the microcirculatory bed, caused by thrombotic events and deteriorations of blood rheology. Aims. The paper reports on the results of a study of Doppler sonographic parameters changes in patients with a novel coronavirus infection over the past 6 months. Materials and methods. We assessed the oral mucosa microcirculation in three segments using the high-frequency ultrasound dopple-rography. Results. We recorded the linear and volumetric blood flow rates and the Gosling and Purselo indexes in the course of our work. When comparing the obtained average statistical parameters of blood flow velocity, the linear and volumetric blood flow rates in patients of both groups were found to be lain in the same range and the mean values of Vas, Vam, Qas were equal. The mean values of the Purselo resistance index were closer to 1,0 in patients with COVID-19, and the values of the Gosling pulsation index (PI) were on average 53.3 % higher than in the control group. Conclusion. We evaluated the screening capabilities and potential of high-frequency ultrasound dopplerography for use in patients of different age groups and different somatic status.