COVID-19 has become a pandemic in the United States and worldwide. COVID-19-induced coagulopathy (CIC) is commonly encountered at presentation manifested by considerable elevation of D-dimer and fibrin split products but with modest or no change in activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. CIC is a complex process that is distinctly different from conventional sepsis-induced coagulopathy. The cytokine storm induced by COVID-19 infection appears to be more severe in COVID-19, resulting in development of extensive micro- and macrovascular thrombosis and organ failure. Unlike conventional sepsis, anticoagulation plays a key role in the treatment of COVID-19, however without practice guidelines tailored to these patients. We propose a scoring system for COVID-19-coagulopathy (CIC Scoring) and stratification of patients for the purpose of anticoagulation therapy based on risk categories. The proposed scoring system and therapeutic guidelines are likely to undergo revisions in the future as new data become available in this evolving field.
COVID-19-induced coagulopathy (CIC) is a distinct entity from sepsis-induced coagulopathy as it manifests by considerable elevation of D-dimer and fibrin split products but has no or mild effect on prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times.
The cytokine storm is more severe in COVID-19 compared to conventional sepsis and results in organ-restricted intravascular coagulopathy, which induces immunothrombosis and organ dysfunction.
COVID-19 infection is associated with high risk of micro- and macrovascular thrombosis and high incidence of anticoagulation failure.
Unlike conventional sepsis, anticoagulation plays a key role in management of COVID-19 infection with a positive impact on survival.
The proposed CIC scoring system may be helpful in triaging patients to various risk categories for the purpose of anticoagulation.