The vascular nature of COVID-19

Link to article at PubMed

Br J Radiol. 2020 Jul 31:20200718. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20200718. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A potential link between mortality, D-dimer values and a prothrombotic syndrome has been reported in COVID-19 patients. The National Institute for Public Health of the Netherlands published a report for guidance on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of thromboembolic complications in COVID-19 with a new vascular disease concept. The analysis of all available current medical, laboratory and imaging data on COVID-19 confirms that symptoms and diagnostic tests can not be explained by impaired pulmonary ventilation. Further imaging and pathological investigations confirm that the COVID-19 syndrome is explained by perfusion disturbances first in the lung, but consecutively in all organs of the body. Damage of the microvasculature by SARS 1 and SARS 2 (COVID-19) viruses causes microthrombotic changes in the pulmonary capillaries and organs leading to macrothrombosis and emboli. Therefore anticoagulant profylaxis, close lab and CT imaging monitoring and early anticoagulant therapy are indicated.

PMID:32735457 | DOI:10.1259/bjr.20200718

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *