New research on COVID, blood clots & advantages of taking anticoagulants

[CDreamer]

medscape.com/viewarticle/96...

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[etheral]

One more reason to receive the latest vaccination rec omendations and take proper physical precautions.

[beach_bum]

For those without access to Reuters;

"Reuters) - Dangerous blood clots often seen in patients with COVID-19 happen at least in part because the spike on the virus attaches itself to molecules in the blood that play key roles in preventing clotting, thereby inactivating them, new research shows.

With the virus bound to them, "these molecules (heparan sulfate/heparin) can't do their usual anticoagulant activities," explained Jingyu Yan of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in China.

Blood clots associated with COVID-19 often damage the lungs and other organs and can cause heart attacks and strokes. The excessive clotting has been attributed to the high levels of inflammation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has not been clear until now that the virus itself also has a direct effect, Yan's team reported in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Fortunately, they point out, the now common practice of giving COVID-19 patients blood-thinning drugs can "significantly reduce" the clotting caused by the virus."

SOURCE: bit.ly/3lerClF International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, online October 29, 2021.

[Crystalbowl in reply to beach_bum]

Thank you Beach-bum and CDreamer. I think there was discussion on here in the early days of Covid about whether anticoagulants would help against the blood clots caused by the virus so it useful to see this latest research confirming that they do.

[Tryfan]

Just to help my confusion. Apixaban is known as anti-coagulant. In this example does it have the same effect as a blood thinner which I normally understand as Warfarin?

[beach_bum in reply to Tryfan]

"Blood thinner" is a misnomer for anticoagulants.Over time the label just stuck.

None of them "thin" the blood.

Having said that, Warfarin is an older variant, and comes with many specific warnings, so be aware of that.

On a personal note, I am on Xeralto, have cut myself and leaked the red stuff on numerous occasions, and have not needed medical attention...caveat...I am a first responder, so I know my way around a first aid kit....which is a good thing, as playing with bicycles and tinkering in the garage with loads of sharp things tends to keep the bandage companies in business 😆

[Tryfan in reply to beach_bum]

Thanks. As a keen, no that's incorrect, as a DIY'er just following orders, but a keen walker, cyclist, keep fit merchant. I too have had my fair share of cuts and bruises. A GP friend of mine said, which I'm sure you are well aware, its head bangs and bleeds that are of major concern.

[beach_bum in reply to Tryfan]

Absolutely one needs to avoid internal bleeding from head trauma.My most expensive pieces of bicycling and motorcycling gear...aside from the rides? Helmets.