Platelets to surrogate lung inflammation in COVID-19 patients

Med Hypotheses. 2020 Oct:143:110098. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110098. Epub 2020 Jul 12.

Abstract

The neoteric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been jeopardizing the world with the symptoms of seasonal flu. The virus contagion predicted to have been originated from Wuhan, China has by far trapped 4,198,418 cases from 212 countries in the world with two international conveyances with 284,102 deaths as of 11 May 2020 (10:18 GMT). Researchers around the globe have indulged in deciphering viral mode in the body for devising a cure. Affirmations from autopsies and preliminary findings on SARS-CoV-2 hypothesized on viral pathogenesis within the host, for instance, source of inflammation in lungs and pneumonia. This hypothesis assigns the platelets as agents of infection after viral entry. Presently, curbing infection to stall the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is the prima facie intervention employed, worldwide. However, public health authorities must monitor the state of affairs scrupulously, as the deeper our understanding of this novel virus and its associated outbreak, the better we can deal with it. Knowing this idea might be far-fetched, yet this postulate would serve as the groundwork for the present situation.

Keywords: COVID-19; Lung inflammation; Pathogenesis; Platelets; Thrombocytopenia.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • Blood Platelets / virology*
  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Lung / virology*
  • Megakaryocytes / virology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Cytokines