Thromboembolism: the secret lethal weapon of coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract

Covid-19 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which began in Wuhan, China, and spread globally in the last few months. COVID-19 pandemic affects anticoagulation, in most patients who need regular anticoagulant care, not just those infected with (SARS-CoV-2). In patients with COVID-19, coagulopathy causes morbidity and mortality. Yet the mechanisms are uncertain and there are few biomarkers. Venous thromboembolism, a possible reason for unexplained mortality, has often been documented in cases of COVID-19, but because of the complexities of antithrombotic treatment and coagulation disorders, its management is still challenging. So, because of the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unknown risks about its coagulopathy management, we intended to provide such a literature review on the potential blood clotting disorder mechanisms, the unique characteristics of COVID-19 coagulopathy, the effect of heparin in COVID-19, prevention and risk assessment for venous thromboembolism, anticoagulation management in venous thromboembolism, diagnosis and treatment of thromboembolism, and thrombolytic therapy in pregnancy in COVID-19. Here, our overview may provide useful information for physicians to enable them to manage COVID-19 coagulopathy.