Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with potentially endothelial damage and coagulation cascade activation that cause thrombosis. There is limited information on thrombosis and anticoagulant therapy in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Aims: This study evaluates the outcome of thromboprophylaxis in children younger than 18-year old with COVID-19 infection.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 184 hospitalized pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. A designed questionnaire was made to collect all demographic, clinical, and laboratory data. According to World Health Organization, the patients were classified as asymptomatic/mild, moderate, severe, and critically ill.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 7.04±5.9 (1 wk to younger than 18 y). Overall, 33 patients received anticoagulant therapy. All patients who passed away (n=19) belonged to the critical group. One patient (1.28%) was complicated with deep vein thrombosis despite taking thromboprophylaxis, and 1 (1.28%) with pulmonary thromboembolism while the patient did not take an anticoagulant.
Conclusions: Our data showed a lower rate of thrombosis (1.4%) than adult patients with COVID-19. It may underline the role of anticoagulants in moderate to severe/critically ill children with COVID-19 infection. Expert opinion and personal experience are necessary, while we have a significant knowledge gap in understanding COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and thrombotic risk in children.
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