Global haemostatic tests demonstrate the absence of parameters of hypercoagulability in non-hypoxic mild COVID-19 patients: a prospective matched study

The effect of Mycobacterium tuberculosis treatment on thrombelastography-assessed haemostasis: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Tuberculosis disease (TB) and tuberculosis infection (TBI) have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease which may be connected to infection-related haemostatic changes. It is unknown if treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis influences haemostasis. Here, we assessed if TB or TBI treatment affects thrombelastography (TEG)-assessed haemostasis.

METHODS

Individuals with TB or TBI were included from a TB outpatient clinic in Copenhagen, Denmark. Patients treated with antithrombotic medication or systemic immunosuppressants were excluded. TEG analysis was performed before and after TB/TBI treatment using the TEG®6s analyser to provide data on the reaction time of clot initiation (R) (min), the speed of clot formation (K) (min) and clot build-up (Angle) (°), maximum clot strength (MA) (mm), and clot breakdown/fibrinolysis (LY30) (%). Differences in TEG were assessed using paired t tests.

RESULTS

We included eleven individuals with TB with median [interquartile range] [IQR] age 52 (Liu et al. in Medicine (United States) 95, 2016) years and mean (standard deviation) (SD) body mass index (BMI) 24.7 (6.3) kg/m2 as well as 15 individuals with TBI with median [IQR] age 49 (Wells et al. in Am J Respir Crit Care Med 204:583, 2021) years and BMI 26.0 (3.2) kg/m2. Treatment reduced MA for both TB (64.0 (6.3) vs. 57.9 (5.2) mm, p = 0.016) and TBI (61.3 (4.1) vs. 58.6 (5.0) mm, p = 0.023) whereas R, K, Angle and LY30 were unaffected.

CONCLUSION

TEG analysis showed that treatments of TB and TBI were associated with reduced MA which may indicate the existence of cardiovascular benefits from therapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov 05 April 2021 with registration number NCT04830462.

Clot Waveform Analysis for Monitoring Hemostasis

Clot waveform analysis (CWA) is a recently developed global coagulation assessment, based on the continuous observation of changes in light transmittance, absorbance, or light scattering that occurs as fibrin formed in a plasma sample during routine clotting tests such as activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT). CWA can utilize qualitative waveform patterns as well as sensitive quantitative parameters and can be used as a simple method to assess global hemostasis, and can be applied to various challenging clinical situations. Although not all coagulation analyzers currently in use are able to provide CWA, the number of analyzers available to do so is increasing, as the usefulness of this process has become more widely recognized. CWA can be based on the coagulation mechanism of aPTT, an intrinsic trigger, and this has been reported in many studies, including diagnosis and treatment of patients with hemophilia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and monitoring of anticoagulants and thrombosis. CWA using trace amounts of tissue factors also has the potential to expand the applications of this technology. Recently, there have been reports of the combined evaluation of fibrinolytic dynamics. Among the existing global coagulation assays, CWA may prove to be the easiest to standardize in clinical practice. However, more extensive testing using standardized methods in various clinical settings is needed to determine the true role of CWA in the evaluation of hemostasis and thrombosis in the future.

Regulation of VWF (Von Willebrand Factor) in Inflammatory Thrombosis

Increasing evidence indicates that inflammation promotes thrombosis via a VWF (von Willebrand factor)-mediated mechanism. VWF plays an essential role in maintaining the balance between blood coagulation and bleeding, and inflammation can lead to aberrant regulation. VWF is regulated on a transcriptional and (post-)translational level, and its secretion into the circulation captures platelets upon endothelial activation. The significant progress that has been made in understanding transcriptional and translational regulation of VWF is described in this review. First, we describe how VWF is regulated at the transcriptional and post-translational level with a specific focus on the influence of inflammatory and immune responses. Next, we describe how changes in regulation are linked with various cardiovascular diseases. Recent insights from clinical diseases provide evidence for direct molecular links between inflammation and thrombosis, including atherosclerosis, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and COVID-19. Finally, we will briefly describe clinical implications for antithrombotic treatment.

Dysregulation of Protein S in COVID-19

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widely associated with increased thrombotic risk, with many different proposed mechanisms. One such mechanism is acquired deficiency of protein S (PS), a plasma protein that regulates coagulation and inflammatory processes, including complement activation and efferocytosis. Acquired PS deficiency is common in patients with severe viral infections and has been reported in multiple studies of COVID-19. This deficiency may be caused by consumption, degradation, or clearance of the protein, by decreased synthesis, or by binding of PS to other plasma proteins, which block its anticoagulant activity. Here, we review the functions of PS, the evidence of acquired PS deficiency in COVID-19 patients, the potential mechanisms of PS deficiency, and the evidence that those mechanisms may be occurring in COVID-19.

Prognostic value of von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Endotheliopathy and coagulopathy appear to be the main causes for critical illness and death in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The adhesive ligand von Willebrand factor (VWF) has been involved in immunothrombosis responding to endothelial injury. Here, we reviewed the current literature and performed meta-analyses on the relationship between both VWF and its cleaving protease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) with the prognosis of COVID-19.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases from inception to 4 March 2022 for studies analyzing the relationship between VWF-related variables and composite clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. The VWF-related variables analyzed included VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), VWF ristocetin cofactor (VWF:Rco), ADAMTS13 activity (ADAMTS13:Ac), the ratio of VWF:Ag to ADAMTS13:Ac, and coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). The unfavorable outcomes were defined as mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and severe disease course. We used random or fixed effects models to create summary estimates of risk. Risk of bias was assessed based on the principle of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

A total of 3764 patients from 40 studies were included. The estimated pooled means indicated increased plasma levels of VWF:Ag, VWF:Rco, and VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:Ac ratio, and decreased plasma levels of ADAMTS13:Ac in COVID-19 patients with unfavorable outcomes when compared to those with favorable outcomes (composite outcomes or subgroup analyses of non-survivor versus survivor, ICU versus non-ICU, and severe versus non-severe). In addition, FVIII were higher in COVID-19 patients with unfavorable outcomes. Subgroup analyses indicated that FVIII was higher in patients admitting to ICU, while there was no significant difference between non-survivors and survivors.

Conclusions

The imbalance of the VWF-ADAMTS13 axis (massive quantitative and qualitative increases of VWF with relative deficiency of ADAMTS13) is associated with poor prognosis of patients with COVID-19.

Thromboelastometry Predicts Thromboembolic Events, Hospital Length of Stay, and Mortality in Patients with COVID-19 Infection and Mild Hypoxemia: A Prospective Observational Study

Background

The aim of this study was to assess changes in hemostasis and associated outcome of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection and mild hypoxemia.

Methods

Adult patients with COVID-19 infection and hypoxemia admitted to ICU were included in this prospective observational study. The primary outcome was defined as an unfavorable course of the disease if a patient: (1) developed a thromboembolic event while receiving anticoagulation prophylaxis, (2) had prolonged ICU stay, or (3) died. Demographic data, laboratory parameters and thromboelastometry (ROTEM) test results were collected.

Results

Twenty-five patients were recruited into the study. There were 16 patients with an unfavorable course of the disease. Compared to the 9 patients in the favorable course group, patients with an unfavorable course had a lower platelet count, median difference of 154 (95% CI, 26 to 223 x10⁹/L), P = 0.012, and lower clot firmness parameters in EXTEM assay: amplitude at 20 minutes (A20), median difference of 7 (95% CI, 2 to 11) P = 0.006, maximum clot firmness (MCF), median difference of 6 (95% CI, 3 to 10) P = 0.006 and area under the curve (AUC) with a median difference of 671 (95% CI, 244 to 1029) P = 0.005. They also demonstrated suppression of fibrinolysis: higher lysis index 60, median difference of -3 (95% CI, -6 to 0), P = 0.023. Results of functional fibrinogen (FIBTEM) assay were similar between the groups.

Conclusion

The platelet count and the results of EXTEM assay, but not FIBTEM assay, were associated with the difference in clinical outcome among patients with COVID-19 infection and hypoxemia. The role of platelets in the outcome of COVID-19 infection calls for further investigation. Future studies on adjusting anticoagulant therapy based on the results of viscoelastic testing may be beneficial.

Hypercoagulability, endotheliopathy, and inflammation approximating 1 year after recovery: Assessing the long-term outcomes in COVID-19 patients

Sustained hypercoagulability and endotheliopathy are present in convalescent COVID‐19 patients for up to 4 months from recovery. The hemostatic, endothelial, and inflammatory profiles of 39 recovered COVID‐19 patients were evaluated up to 16 months after recovery from COVID‐19. These values were compared with a control group of healthy volunteers (n = 124). 39 patients (71.8% males, median age 43 years) were reviewed at a mean of 12.7 ± 3.6 months following recovery. One patient without cardiovascular risk factors had post COVID‐19 acute ischaemic limb. Elevated D‐dimer and Factor VIII levels above normal ranges were noted in 17.9% (7/39) and 48.7% (19/39) of patients respectively, with a higher median D‐dimer 0.34 FEU μg/mL (IQR 0.28, 0.46) (p < .001) and Factor VIII 150% (IQR 171, 203) (p = .004), versus controls. Thrombin generation (Thromboscreen) showed a higher median endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) of 1352 nM*min (IQR 1152, 1490) (p = .002) and a higher median peak height of 221.4 nM (IQR 170.2, 280.4) (p = 0.01) and delayed lag time 2.4 min (1.42–2.97) (p = 0.0002) versus controls. Raised vWF:Ag and ICAM‐1 levels were observed in 17.9% (7/39) and 7.7% (3/39) of patients respectively, with a higher median VWF:Ag 117% (IQR 86, 154) (p = 0.02) and ICAM‐1 54.1 ng/mL (IQR 43.8, 64.1) (p = .004) than controls. IL‐6 was noted to be raised in 35.9% (14/39) of patients, with a higher median IL‐6 of 1.5 pg/mL (IQR 0.6, 3.0) (p = 0.004) versus controls. Subgroup analysis stratifying patients by COVID‐19 severity and COVID‐19 vaccination preceding SARS‐CoV‐2 infection did not show statistically significant differences. Hypercoagulability, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation are still detectable in some patients approximately 1 year after recovery from COVID‐19.

The evolution of clot strength in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective observational thromboelastography study

The authors have done commendable work in exploring the utility of a comprehensive viscoelastic test for assessment of the coagulation cascade in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This article published in your esteemed journal in November 2021 “The evolution of clot strength in critically-ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective observational thromboelastography study” found hypercoagulability in most of the patients at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and also noted a persistently increased fibrin contribution to clot strength. However, we would like to comment upon a few points which may be of importance to the readers.