Platelets Derived Microparticles in COVID-19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidences indicate that COVID-19 infection causes hypercoagulable state with micro and macrovascular thrombosis. Platelet-derived microparticles (PDMPs) have inflammatory and diverse coagulant roles. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess PDMPs in patients with active and convalescent post COVID-19 infection and correlate PDMPs with clinical, radiological and laboratory findings used in follow up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 25 patients during active COVID-19 (Group A), of them five patients had thromboembolic events (TEE); and Group B including 32 patients during post COVID-19 stages. Clinical and radiological assessment, routine biomarkers, and detection of PDMPs levels, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, were done for all patients. RESULTS: In addition to significant differences detected regarding hemoglobin level, total leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein level, D-dimer, and serum ferritin, and high significant differences in PDMPs levels were elicited between groups A and B (mean ± standard deviation: 38.7 ± 10.6 IU/mL, and 18.9 ± 15.3 IU/mL) respectively, with discriminative level at 20.5 IU/mL. PDMPs showed nonsignificant difference between patients with and without TEE and no correlation was detected between PDMPs and clinical or radiological severity in post-COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: In COVID-19 infection, PDMPs are related to viral activity, and their major role is inflammatory associated.