The role of platelets in antiviral immunity

The main role of platelets is traditionally assigned to participation in hemostasis reactions. In recent years, the data have appeared on the non-hemostatic platelet-related role and their active participation in inflammatory reactions. These platelet functions are predetermined by their ability to activate and secrete various immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, activated platelets can directly interact with viral receptors. Recently, there has been growing the knowledge regarding platelet-related regulation of diverse cell types. The result of this interaction is, among others, the formation of platelet-leukocyte aggregates, the focusing of neutrophils at the sites of injury, and generation of a scaffold for developing extracellular traps. Thus, platelets are not only participants in coagulation processes, but also important players in the inflammatory process. This lecture details the issues of platelets controlling and modulating host response to viral infection, as well as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Features of the novel coronavirus infection in cancer patients

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is largely associated with various coagulopathies, which can lead to either bleeding and thrombocytopenia or hypercoagulation and thrombosis. Thrombohemorrhagic complications also could accompany the development of cancer process. In addition, circulating inflammatory biomarkers such as fibrin, D-dimer, P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (vWF) typical to both coronavirus infection and malignancy process are of special interest. In this review, we discuss potential interplay between COVID-19 and cancer related to endothelial dysfunction, platelets, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Most importantly, patients should be treated in early stage of the disease process when elevated levels of fibrinogen, D-dimer, vWF, and P-selectin are observed. The level of these markers will rise rapidly upon disease progression, followed by a cytokine storm, would evidence about a poor prognosis. © 2021 IRBIS LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The effect of various types of anticoagulant therapy on the reduction of mortality in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection that, in severe course, leads to the development of a cytokine storm, systemic inflammatory response and coagulopathy. Unlike other sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, COVID-19 induced coagulopathy is realized mainly in thrombosis. Researchers around the world are currently developing adequate diagnostic, monitoring and anticoagulant therapy approaches to safely and effectively manage patients with severe COVID-19. The need to develop laboratory monitoring is due to the fact that 20% of patients have changes in hemostasis indicators, while in patients with a severe form of the disease, they are present in 100% of cases. In case of deaths from COVID-19, there is an increase in the concentration of D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation products. Thus, the severity of hemostasis disorders has an important prognostic value. Anticoagulant therapy is included in the list of all recommendations as an effective means of reducing mortality from COVID-19. The questions of the recommended groups and doses of anticoagulant drugs are still open. The approach to the choice of an anticoagulant should be based not only on risk factors, characteristics of the course of the disease, anamnesis, but also on the wishes of the patient during long-term therapy at the post-hospital stage.

Novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and risk groups in obstetrics and gynecology

Dear editors of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Journal! Due to the particular urgency of the problem of managing patients with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), we are sending a letter outlining our position on this issue.