Blood clotting emerges as a new COVID-19 risk

It’s well established that COVID-19 fuels severe respiratory problems.  In addition, those with severe infections also risk abnormal blood clotting, according to Irish clinicians.

Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences found that the culprit is apparently micro-clots, which form in the lungs. They also discovered that patients with higher levels of blood clotting activity had a significantly worse prognosis and were more likely to require care in intensive care units.

“Understanding how these micro-clots are being formed within the lung is critical so that we can develop more effective treatments for our patients, particularly those in high risk groups,” said Professor James O’Donnell, Director of the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology.

Emerging evidence also shows that the abnormal blood-clotting problem in COVID-19 may significantly increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes, he added.

Full findings appear in the current edition of the British Journal of Haematology.