Evaluation of lupus anticoagulant positivity in covid-19 patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Anticoagulant treatment reduces mortality rates in COVID-19 patients. aPTT is measured to be prolonged in many Covid-19 patients and is associated with the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA). Our aim in the study is to emphasize that LA should be considered in the evaluation of anticoagulant therapy and prolonged aPTT status due to the increased risk of thrombosis in LA-positive with COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Patients who LA test performed between November-2020 and April-2021 were grouped as positive and negative according to the COVID-19 PCR test results. Confirmed COVID-19 patients were evaluated for thromboembolic event and thrombosis laboratory. The data were obtained retrospectively from the laboratory information management system. RESULTS: The LA test of 806 patients were performed during the time interval, and 52 patients also confirmed positive COVID-19 PCR results. While LA was positive in 25% of PCR (-) patients, this rate increased to 50% in COVID-19 patients (p=0.003). Also, mean prothrombin time and aPTT were measured to be prolonged in LA positive COVID-19 patients compared to those with PCR(-) (p=0.02). Although thrombosis was observed in the COVID-19 group with LA positivity, no thromboembolic event was found in the negative group, but this situation is not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: LA positivity is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. We recommend adding the LA test to the coagulation panel and using it especially for patients with high aPTT values in the follow-up of the disease against the increased risk of thrombosis.