
Novel Coronavirus Infection: A Review on Haematological Markers of Disease Severity
Correspondence Address :Dr. Angela Ogechukwu Ugwu,
Department of Haematology and Immunology, Ituku/Ozalla/Enugu State, Nigeria.
E-mail: angelao.ugwu@unn.edu.ng
The Corornavirus Disease (COVID-19) virus infection has a wide range of presentation- asymptomatic, mild, severe and critical forms that often lead to death from respiratory failure. There is a strong relationship between the severity of COVID-19 infection and some haematological parameters. Patients often present with lymphocytopenia at diagnosis despite having a normal total white cell count. The degree of lymphocytopenia could predict the progression to pneumonia and subsequent need for ventilator support due to respiratory failure. Apart from lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia has been linked with increased severity of COVID-19 symptoms. The lymphocyte-platelet ratio has been found to a better marker for disease severity than isolated lymphocytopenia or thrombocytopenia. COVID-19 patients have been found to be at increased risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). There is elevation of D-dimers, abnormalities of the Prothrombin Time (PT) and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) among hospitalised COVID-19 patients. This has necessitated the use of prophylactic anticoagulation even in the early phases of the infection.
Anticoagulation, Coagulopathy, Corornavirus disease, Lymphocytopenia, Pneumonia, Thrombocytopenia
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2020/45253.14036
Date of Submission: May 29, 2020
Date of Peer Review: Jul 01, 2020
Date of Acceptance: Jul 24, 2020
Date of Publishing: Sep 01, 2020
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? NA
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: May 30, 2020
• Manual Googling: Jul 24, 2020
• iThenticate Software: Aug 29, 2020 (13%)
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