Incorrect blood clots
Scientists have found out why blood clots form with COVID-19
Swedish scientists have identified a biological mechanism for increasing blood clotting and the appearance of thrombosis in COVID-19. The results of the study are published in the journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis (Eriksson et al., Mannose-Binding Lectin is Associated with Thrombosis and Coagulopathy in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients).
It is known that one of the most common complications in the severe form of COVID-19 is thrombosis, the formation of blood clots and blood clots inside blood vessels. But the mechanism of occurrence of this complication has not yet been fully understood.
Biologists from Uppsala University and their medical colleagues from the University Hospital found out that when a coronavirus enters the body, a certain protein is activated that triggers part of our immune system, which increases blood clotting. They also understood why traditional blood thinning drugs do not help at the same time.
It turned out that the key mechanism of blood clots formation in COVID-19 is activation of the so–called complement system – a set of plasma proteins involved in the implementation of the immune response.
The function of the complement system, which includes about fifty proteins circulating in the blood, is to recognize and quickly neutralize bacteria and viruses, as well as dead and damaged cells in the bloodstream.
Thus, the complement system performs an important cleaning function. But when its activation becomes too powerful, for example, in severe infections, the system becomes overactive and begins to affect the body's own cells, which leads to tissue damage.
Swedish scientists have found that the key role of activating the complement system in coronavirus infection is played by the mannose binding lectin protein, MBL – lectin binding mannose.
They measured the level and activity of MBL in sixty-five patients with COVID-19 at Uppsala University Hospital. All those who developed thrombosis during their stay in the hospital had increased MBL activity and levels.
Scientists believe that the activation of the complement system by MBL contributes to an overall increase in blood clotting and an increase in the risk of thrombosis.
"Our results are particularly interesting because they explain why so many patients suffer from the formation of blood clots, despite treatment, and why conventional blood thinners cannot prevent this," the university press release quotes the words of the study's lead author Oskar Eriksson, a doctor at the university hospital and a researcher an employee of the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology of Uppsala University.
Scientists believe that their results will help create a system for testing patients with COVID-19 for MBL activity in order to timely identify those among them who are at high risk of thrombosis, and will also contribute to the creation of a specific blood thinning drug targeting this protein.
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