Assessing blood samples with new device pinpoints early warning signs for COVID-19 patients
A new technological development can help physicians spot blood clots in patients with COVID-19 who are at risk of organ failure, researchers reported in Nature Communications.
The group assessed more than 100 infected patients and noted nearly 90% had unusually high amounts of platelet aggregation in their blood samples, a known sign of thrombosis. Their novel tool, which utilizes advanced imaging, may be able to measure platelets and potentially prevent deadly clots from forming.
“People knew from autopsy data that multi-organ microvascular thrombosis is a factor in COVID-19 related deaths, but the underlying physiology with regards to platelet aggregates and morphology was an unknown,” Gustavo Rohde, a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, explained Monday. “Now we have a new technology that combines fast imaging hardware with data analysis to measure and characterize platelet morphology distribution from COVID-19 patient blood samples.”
Using their invention, Rohde et al. found that an increase in platelet aggregates correlated to worsening patient conditions, while the concentration of aggregates was strongly linked to various factors such as disease severity, mortality and respiratory condition.
Within a few hours, providers may know if an individual is at risk of experiencing thrombosis and other related complications.
“We will need these types of measurements going forward, to monitor disease progression, to study complications from long-haul COVID-19, and to develop and test drugs that can prevent the blood clots from forming in the first place,” Rohde added.
You can access the entire study for free here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.