COVID-19 associated thromboinflammation of renal capillary: potential mechanisms and treatment

Am J Transl Res. 2020 Dec 15;12(12):7640-7656. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic disease with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory and thrombosis are its main manifestations. As an important organ of hemofiltration metabolism, the kidney is prone to blockage and destruction when filter high inflammatory and high viscous blood of COVID-19, resulting in the loss of a large amount of protein, aggravating blood concentration, and then worsening COVID-19 hypercoagulability, which may explain the phenomenon of erythrocytes aggregation blocking the capillary lumen and the main reason why the kidney has become the second largest involvement organs. Therefore, this review discusses the effects of pathophysiological mechanisms such as inflammatory storm, endothelial injury, phosphatidylserine expression, extracellular traps release on renal capillary thrombosis caused by COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, in view of the above mechanisms, we put forward the potential targets of antithrombotic therapy, and graded management of patients, reasonable use of drugs according to the severity of the disease and the choice of time. And we support the view of prevention of thrombus before admission, continuous anticoagulation and drug choice after discharge. It is suggested that the symptomatic and supportive treatment of renal disease in critically ill patients should be combined with the concept of antithrombotic therapy. The ultimate goal is to reduce the occurrence and development of kidney disease, provide direction for the current management of COVID-19 with kidney disease, and reduce the mortality of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; antithrombotic therapy; graded management; inflammation; renal capillary thrombosis.

Publication types

  • Review