This study states that As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread throughout the world, important efforts have been made to describe its physiopathology and complications. In critically ill patients with COVID-19, a systemic inflammatory response associated with endothelial activation is observed.1 A high rate of thrombotic complications has been described, including deep vein thrombosis.2 Although the mechanisms of thrombosis are unclear, anticoagulation with high doses of heparin has been proposed for these patients.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe, life-threatening drug reaction associated with a decrease in platelet count and a high risk of thrombosis caused by platelet-activating antibodies against PF4/heparin complexes.3 The atypical clinical and therapeutic context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a broader indication of curative anticoagulation, could lead to a higher prevalence of HIT. In this context, we retrospectively reviewed all cases of HIT among patients presenting with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 2 intensive care units in southern France. We described 7 consecutive cases of HIT associated with COVID-19 ARDS between March 30 and April 18, 2020 (Table). Patients or their relatives received information and signed a nonopposition form.
Reference link- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.049015
