Background: Pulmonary embolism is a frequent complication in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pathogenesis of COVID-associated activation of coagulation is not fully understood and appears to be different from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in patients with sepsis. As the pathophysiology of coagulation in COVID-patients is unknown, it is uncertain whether unfractionated heparin (UFH), or anticoagulation in general, is effective in the attenuation of the procoagulant state. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of intravenous unfractionated heparin on clinical, radiological and laboratory parameters in patients with COVID-19 and acute pulmonary embolism (PE).
Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study in 19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19 and computed tomography (CT) scanning proven pulmonary embolism. According to the local protocol, repeated CT-scanning was indicated if no pulmonary improvement was present after a minimum of 7 days following start of anticoagulant treatment. We defined three endpoints: Laboratory markers (d-dimer at day 0 vs day 2), clinical success (resolution of PE at follow up CT scan or discharged alive from ICU) and radiological response (Qanadli index at follow up CT scan vs CT scan at diagnosis PE). Statistical tests used for analysis were a T-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.
Results: Unfractionated heparin resulted in clinical success in at least 14 out of 19 patients. Pulmonary emboli were completely resolved on the follow up computed tomography scans in 5 out of 6 patients and partly resolved in the 6th patient. D-dimer levels decreased on average from 7074 ng/mL to 4347 ng/mL (p=0.001) within 48 hours after start of heparin.
Conclusion: In this observational study, we showed a rapid clinical, laboratory and radiological improvement in patients with COVID-19 and proven pulmonary embolism. Standard anticoagulant treatment was effective in this setting, supporting current guideline recommendations.