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Platelets of Those Infected with COVID-19 Exhibit Dangerous Imbalance That May Explain Blood Clot Risks
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 05, 2025 9 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers Identify a Critical Shift in Blood Cell Chemistry
Scientists from the University of Perugia in Italy have made an important discovery that may explain why many COVID-19 patients experience dangerous blood clots. Their study reveals that the platelets in COVID-19 patients—the small cells in our blood that help with clotting—show an unhealthy imbalance between two key substances: nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This imbalance appears to increase the risk of thrombosis, a condition where blood clots form inside blood vessels and cause serious complications like strokes and heart attacks.
Platelets of Those Infected with COVID-19 Exhibit Dangerous Imbalance That May Explain Blood Clot Risks
How the Study Was Carried Out
The researchers collected blood samples from people hospitalized with either mild or severe COVID-19, as well as from healthy individuals and patients in intensive care for non-COVID reasons. They used a technique called flow cytometry to measure how much NO and ROS the platelets were producing. They also tested the patients' blood plasma to check for oxidative stress using lipid peroxidation and ORAC assays. In addition, they studied how plasma from COVID-19 patients affected NO production in platelets taken from healthy individuals.
Study Findings
This Medical News report highlights several shocking findings. The platelets of COVID-19 patients showed a sharp drop in nitric oxide production while producing far more ROS. This imbalance is dangerous because NO normally helps blood vessels stay open and prevents clots, while too much ROS causes inflammation and clotting. Patients who developed blood clots during their hospital stay had particularly low NO levels.
COVID Plasma Disrupts Healthy Platelet Function
The study also showed that even healthy platelets began producing less NO when exposed to plasma from COVID-19 patients. This effect could be reversed, however, with the use of the antioxidant Hydroxy-TEMPO, which restored NO levels in the platelets. This finding suggests that antioxidant therapy might offer a way to reduce clotting risks in infected patients.
A New Clue in the Fight Against COVID-19 Clot Complications
According to the research team, this shift in the NO/ROS balance may be a key reason why COVID-19 patients are prone to life-threatening clotting issues. By identifying this mechanism, the study opens the door to new treatments that focus on restoring nitric oxide production or reducing ROS levels in platelets. Targeting this imbalance could help prevent serious complications and improve patient outcomes.