RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Platelet aggregates, a marker of severe COVID-19 disease
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 750
OP 751
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206933
VO 74
IS 11
A1 Alexandros Rampotas
A1 Sue Pavord
YR 2021
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/74/11/750.abstract
AB Thrombocytopenia is common in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting due to endogenous and iatrogenic factors. Despite that, thrombocytopenia in patients with severe COVID-19 infections is surprisingly uncommon. By examining the blood film of 20 ICU patients with COVID-19, we observed the presence of platelet aggregates and macrothrombocytes indicating increased platelet activity. We compared these findings with 20 blood films of non-severe COVID-19 cases where these findings were absent. These morphology features could be consistent with severe COVID-19 infection and is further evidence of the important role that platelets play when COVID-19 manifests with thrombotic complications or respiratory failure.