2/26/2024 0 Comments Serum viscosity unitsThe fibrinogen concentration in plasma is the main determinant of plasma viscosity’ (Otto et al, 2000:810). Plasma viscosity is mainly determined by the level of a blood clotting protein called fibrinogen and antibody concentrations proteins produced by the body’s immune system. It appears that the coagulation process in Covid-19 patients is sufficiently enhanced to overcome these low levels of anticoagulation. Patients with severe symptoms have been reported to develop multiple thromboses even when given this prophylaxis. The sickest patients had the highest plasma viscosity levels, more than double normal values, and were also more likely to have a blood clot.Ĭovid patients are normally prescribed prophylactic anticoagulants, low molecular weight heparin, to prevent thrombosis. The publication of a paper in the Lancet on by Dr Cheryl Maier from Emory University, Georgia, Atlanta reported a dramatic rise of blood viscosity in severe Covid-19 patients. Grey circles indicate patients without known thrombotic complications and black squares indicate patients with known thrombotic complications (Maier et al, 2020:1759) Plasma viscosity was strongly correlated with SOFA scores by Pearson correlation, r = 0.841, R2 = 0.7072, p<0.001. All patients had plasma viscosity levels above the normal reference range (1.4-1.8 centipoise, cp). that the PV correlates with severity (Maier et al, 2020).Ĭonsidering that COVID-19 is a relatively new-found disease, this range of research into its association with PV appears to be of significant value and increased clinical importance may be identified from further research.įigure: Plasma viscosity and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in 15 critically ill patients with COVID-19. This solidifies the research from Maier et al. This indicates that the viscosity levels of plasma may be higher in COVID-19 patients during the disease yet with a noticeable lowering if they are likely to die soon. There is also evidence to suggest that shortly before death, PV levels will decrease dramatically. However, scientists are realising that by comparing the viscosity of two similar but different blood components, they could have a valuable aid in predicting how a patient’s illness is progressing, enabling timely and effective interventions to be made. It would be easy to dismiss the plasma viscosity test as you would normally expect to see an increase in blood viscosity levels due to the body fighting an infection. Only clinical viscosity testing provides the detailed valuable hyperviscosity information required by clinicians. Using other methods, such as ESR and CRP, for measuring inflammation alone would be insufficient and would not report these key viscosity levels. However, the disease demonstrated its ability to be most destructive as a severe haematological condition, calling for a radical change in approach. Initially, COVID-19 was considered to be a serious pulmonary illness. The relevance of PV testing has been recognised for nearly 40 year (Harkness, 1971:171) and subsequent research has shown that it has significant clinical applications, of which the prognosis of COVID-19 patients is the latest. It was also found that there was a strong correlation between a raised PV and the severity of the condition.ĭr.Cheryl Maier’s research, even in isolation, demonstrates that there is an association between COVID-19 and PV. The research was carried out on 15 critically ill patients and all were found to have a PV ‘exceeding 95% of normal……ranging from 1.9 – 4.2 centipoise (cP normal range 1.4 – 1.8)’ (Maier et al, 2020:1759). The association between COVID-19 and plasma viscosity (PV) has been demonstrated in a 2020 article in The Lancet. Knowing this would make it possible to direct resources more efficiently and begin potentially life-saving treatment earlier. One of the biggest challenges facing medical teams treating COVID-19 patients is identifying which ones are likely to suffer the most extreme responses to the virus. Carriers of the disease may be asymptomatic for several days which means they could be spreading the virus without even knowing it. The virus may also spread via contaminated surfaces, although this is not thought to be a significant mode of transmission. It is responsible for putting huge strain on health services around the world and has currently caused the deaths of over 2.3 million people.ĬOVID-19 spreads primarily through small droplets of virus infected saliva or discharge from the nose when coughing or sneezing. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is causing the worst global pandemic in living memory.
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