Adam C. Cuker, MD, joins host David H. Henry, MD, to discuss recent findings regarding coagulation in COVID-19 patients. Both Dr. Cuker and Dr. Henry both practice at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Cuker cited data suggesting at least 25%-30% of patients with COVID-19 develop venous thromboembolism (VTE), despite receiving prophylactic anticoagulation. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients have presented with "lots of different thrombotic manifestations," he said. This includes stroke and "COVID toes syndrome," a condition in which patients present with ischemic toes, which appears to have a thromboembolic etiology. Dr. Cuker suggested that all three aspects of Virchow's triad may be at play in patients with COVID-19 who have thrombotic manifestations, including: Circulatory stasis (in patients who are immobilized/sedated/prone/paralyzed). Hypercoagulability (inflammation, high levels of factor VIII and fibrinogen, neutrophil extracellular traps). Endothelial injury (SARS-CoV-2 may infect endothelial cells via ACE2). Dr. Cuker notes that high D-dimer correlates with disease severity and prognosis in COVID-19 patients. He also compares COVID-19 to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), noting that both are associated with venous and arterial thromboses. And, like HIT patients, those with COVID-19 may require therapeutic-intensity anticoagulation to prevent clots. Dr. Cuker says his hospital's recommendations for anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients are as follows: Stable hospitalized patients should receive standard-intensity prophylaxis. ICU patients should receive intermediate- or therapeutic-intensity anticoagulation (at the discretion of the provider). On discharge, patients should receive low-dose rivaroxaban (Xarelto) at 10 mg daily for 30 days as prophylaxis. A nonhospitalized patient who has no risk factors for thrombotic events should not receive thromboprophylaxis. Dr. Cuker also discusses two recent publications on thrombosis and anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients. In one study, thrombotic events occurred in 31% of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU at three Dutch hospitals (Thromb Res. 2020 Apr 10. pii: S0049-3848(20)30120-1). Another study suggested that systemic anticoagulation may improve outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 May 5. pii: S0735-1097(20)35218-9). Show notes by Emily Bryer, DO, resident in the department of internal medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Disclosures: Dr. Henry has no financial disclosures relevant to this episode. Dr. Cuker has served as a consultant for Synergy CRO. His institution has received research support on his behalf from Alexion, Bayer, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Spark, and Takeda. * * * For more MDedge Podcasts, go to mdedge.com/podcasts Email the show: [email protected] Interact with us on Twitter: @MDedgehemonc David Henry on Twitter: @davidhenrymd

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related