What does anyone make of recent reports of growing evidence that Covid-19 can cause blood clotting abnormalities in patients, which could increase their risk of death?
The study, published in the British Journal of Haematology, says that researchers at the Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, RCSI and St James’s Hospital, Dublin, have reported finding that patients with severe coronavirus infection have micro blood clots in their lungs – something they say is not seen in other lung conditions, and could explain why people with severe Covid-19 have a drastic drop in blood oxygen levels.
I have ET and am now wondering whether this means coronavirus poses an even greater risk than we thought.
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Hat3
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I’m in hospital now, got coronavirus about 4 weeks, now I seems to have a clot in my lungs and maybe heart, had CT scans but it’s not clear so I’m having another scan with dye. Have ET 3 years on Peg.
Oh Raff, I was wondering how you were doing. I’m so sorry to hear this. You’ll be in good hands. Wishing you best wishes and a speedy recovery.
Incidentally, a friend of mine in a different town has had the virus, she wasn’t too bad symptom wise, but her husband was taken in to hospital by ambulance with breathing problems (pneumonia), they also scanned him to look for clots, so it must be a manifestation expected with this virus. He doesn’t have an MPN.
So sorry to hear this, but I know this disease affects various organs, no consolation to you though. Wishing you all the best for a good recovery, Cassie11 x
Oh Raff, so sorry to read this... I am still surprised you even got coronavirus with all the precautions you took, very unlucky. It is reassuring that you are not feeling awful. I hope they are taking good care of you in hospital. Are you in Watford? I wish you a speedy recovery. 💛💛💛
Hi Susanna, I was being so careful but it seems I caught this at the doctors. I feel ok now. I am in Watford, they are just dealing with the after affects of Covid. They did the swab test so I know I’m clear of it now, not sure why but they did it twice, at least I don’t need to worry about passing it on to my wife. I hope you well Raff x
Oh that is good news, at least the virus is gone, your wife is safe and you should hopefully have immunity. I hope the clots will resolve soon and you can return home. All well with me, I have been self-isolating for around 46 days now (although not shielding, never got the letter). All the best, Susana xxx
Wising you a speedy recovery my friend. I am glad to hear that your feel well enough that boredom is an issue. I can certainly sympathize and have experienced the same when confined to bed and/or room. Also wishing you vast sums of entertainment and amusement upon your release.
Thank you, I’ve just been doing the rounds chatting to all the patients so I’m not quite so bored. Most of the patients are post Covid lung damage, some pretty horrendous stories. I’m lucky I feel ok.
Glad to hear that both for your sake and for all the rest of us with MPNs. Many MPNers are quite worried about whether they will be at increased risk it they contract COVID19. Please keep us up-to-date on your recovery. It is encouraging news for all of us.
I don’t know whether my problems were in anyway connected with ET but one thing was for sure every one in my ward who obviously doesn’t have ET were much more sick than me. So I don’t think we are any worse off than anyone. This Covid is so variable that some people get mild symptoms, some people who I am here with in hospital have horrendous symptoms.
This COVID19 is a mystery. Hopefully the reasons for the variability in its presentation will become clear. I am glad to hear examples of having a MPN not changing the outcome of this virus. Hopefully your experience will be a trend that continues.
Such good news that you're feeling better, and on the road to full recovery. It's a very positive message for the rest of us. Little bit worrying that you caught it at the docs. Best wishes.
I can’t be 100% sure I got it at the doctors, but I did get all the government text to say be extra careful so I was self isolating, not even allowing my kids/grandchildren to come round but I had a GP appointment and they wanted me to come in. Later that day they closed the surgery even though people had appointments because someone had gone to the surgery with Covid 19. May be a coincidence. But I can’t think how else I could have caught it. My GP also caught it and he was really ill.
Hi ya, feel absolutely fine, but I’m still in hospital while they figure out how to get my heart rhythms back to normal and my resting heart rate back to 65 which it was instead of 110 which it seems to be stuck at. Also left side of my heart is a bit swollen. All post Covid damage. This all happened when I got Covid 19 but the doctor are not convinced as they don’t know enough about post Covid damage yet. Take care Raff
Hi Hat3, this has been raised on a couple of other posts and I had a reply from Prof Harrison, so will post it here as well for you:
Yes thrombosis is a problem. But we have no view that MPN increases that risk nor whether if you have had a thrombosis in the past that the risk is increased. Many patients with COVID-19 in hospital will receive anticoagulation protection with heparin and what the correct dose of that is forms part of some current research.
no worries, better to have it repeated than not on at all, that is what this forum is for, to keep people up-to-date with everything, so good that you did it. Best wishes, Maz
In response to the question have a look at the MPN voice/Leukaemia Care webinar video - available on FB to watch again. Prof Harrison said the indication is clots are from inflamation in Covid-19 rather than the reasons MPN patients are at increased risk of clots - she did say was important to mention that you have an MPN if you need to seek medical attention & that it was useful to say to the medical team that you have a sticky blood condition if they haven't heard of MPN - which we know many haven't.
Another point of view here. At Wednesday's Webinar, one of the haematologist said Covid19 poses no more risk to MPN patients than anyone else. The medication we take reduces the risk of blood clots so I personally wouldn't worry too much, but I am 68 and don't seem unduly worried about coronavirus. I've lived most of my life, but I still observe government guidelines.
My 18 yr old son has ET so I worry about the clotting issue with him. The MPN video was encouraging. I found it interesting that interferon was a drug being looked at for Covid-19. Right now my son is only on aspirin and takes curcumin. I’m going to ask his dr about adding CoQ-10. My son had confirmed Influenza A in Dec and ended up in the hospital. Fever, chills, sore throat and a hard time taking deep breaths. They did xray and CT scan to check for clots. He had to strengthen his breathing when he got home. He’s never been that sick. I’d like to test his antibodies to see if he also had Covid. He is so ready to see friends! My husband and I are trying to figure out what that will look like for him until treatments are figured out. We’re thinking masks will be involved! So thankful for this group. I was afraid to join a forum- I was afraid of reading horror stories, but you are all so helpful and encouraging. Blessings to you all!
I took an antibody test on Thursday should hopefully get the results on Monday. The antibodies take three weeks to develop so one needs to think abt timing
Probably haven’t had it but keen to know one way or other
I am in Germany. I got it via a local GP that’s been designated to do the tests. It took two days to get the results which were negative. I think the tests will be available in the UK soon. It takes the body 3 weeks to produce sufficient antibodies
Hi Raff . Just picked up your thread. So sorry to hear you caught the virus, big shock for you... I hope your recovery is going well, and you get the all clear to get back home very soon.
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