The cause of death of patients with severe coronavirus from thrombosis is due to the excessive activity of immune neutrophil cells. This was established by Spanish scientists, their work was published in the journal JAMA Cardiology.
Specialists studied samples of clotted blood taken from the coronary artery of patients who suffered a heart attack after being infected with the coronavirus. The samples showed many traces of neutrophils.
The project manager, Ana Blasco, a cardiologist at the Hospital of the Autonomous University of Madrid, believes that in severe coronavirus, neutrophil extracellular traps (NEL), which kill viruses and microbes, begin to work worse. For example, they combine not only with pathogens, but also with platelets. As a result, this leads to the spontaneous formation of blood clots and myocardial infarction in some patients.
According to scientists, this problem can be avoided by preventing the appearance of a large number of neutrophils or NELs in the body. Experts hope that in the near future they will be able to verify these data and protect patients with severe forms of coronavirus from thrombosis.
Neutrophils are the most abundant type of immune cells. They kill harmful bacteria and germs, as well as pathogens of the virus.
Previously it was reported that in the United States a three-year-old boy suffered a stroke due to coronavirus. At the same time, the test for COVID-19 gave a negative result, but antibodies were found in his blood.