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Objectives and background Convalescent plasma (CP) has been used worldwide to contrast SARS-CoV-2 infection. Since April 2020, it has also been used in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the Veneto region (Italy), along with all the other available drugs and therapeutic tools. Here we report data analysis and clinical results in 1,517 COVID-19 inpatients treated with CP containing high-titre neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (CCP). Mortality after 30 days of hospitalization has been considered primary outcome, by comparing patients treated with CCP vs all COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals of the Veneto region in a one-year period (from April 2020 to April 2021). Patients and methods Adult inpatients with a severe form of COVID-19 have been enrolled, with at least one of the following inclusion criteria: 1) tachypnea with respiratory rate (RR) ≥ 30 breaths/min; 2) oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤ 93% at rest and in room air; 3) partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≤ 200 mmHg, 4) radiological picture and/or chest CT scan showing signs of interstitial disease and/or rapid progression of lung involvement. Patients received a maximum of three therapeutic fractions (TFs) of CCP with a neutralizing antibody titre of ≥ 1:160, administered over a period of 3–5 days. If TFs of CCP with titre ≥ 1:160 were unavailable, 2 with antibody titre of ≥ 1:80 have been administered. Results Of the 1,517 patients treated with CCP, 209 deceased at the 30-day follow-up (14%). Death was significantly associated with an older age (p30 (p

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) are associated with venous thromboembolism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In patients without SLE, but with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) this association is established only for patients with lupus anticoagulant (LA). In a case-controlled study APAs were determined in 171 consecutive outpatients who underwent phlebography at the first episode of clinically suspected DVT of lower limbs. Phlebography confirmed the presence of DVT in 54 (32%) patients and excluded it in 117. Antiphospholipid antibodies (exluding LA) were detected in 5 (9.2%) of the 54 patients with DVT and in 7 (5.9%) of the 117 subjects without DVT, The prevalence of APAs tended to be higher in patients with DVT than in patients without DVT, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3%). Antiphospholipid antibodies in the absence of LA are not associated with DVT in symptomatic patients. Therefore future studies should be performed before changing our clinical approach in APA-A positive but LA-negative patients. Key Words: Antiphospholipid antibodies-Deep vein thrombosis.

A 55-year-old woman with a previous history of thrombotic manifestations developed large left atrial thrombosis. Coagulative screening demonstrated the presence of severe activated protein C resistance due to homozygous factor V Leiden mutation that could explain the thrombophilic state in this patient. No other associated coagulation defects predisposing to thrombosis were identified. At the time of diagnosis of intra-atrial thrombosis, the patient presented with a moderate mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation of recent onset. Both these conditions may account for the presence of left atrial thrombosis but it is suggested that inherited thrombophilia due to homozygous factor V Leiden mutation might have represented an additional predisposing factor for the development of the thrombotic phenomenon. The role of coagulation defects predisposing to thrombosis in the pathogenesis of intracardial thrombosis in patients with or without valvular diseases is still unknown and proper studies are required. Key Words: Thrombophilia-Factor V Leiden-Atrial thrombosis.