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The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China and is responsible for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Despite being well tolerated by most patients, a fraction of cases evolve into a potentially fatal condition requiring intensive care. In addition to respiratory complications, several studies have reported cases of patients who developed intense thrombosis, including acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, as well as the presence of elevated coagulation markers. Evidence has shown that the virus can interact directly with platelets and modulate their thrombotic and inflammatory functions, with significant prognostic implications. It is important to highlight that the emerging literature shows that when hyperactive these cells can act as pro-viral infections both in transporting their particles and in increasing inflammation, leading to a hyperinflammatory state and consequent clinical worsening. In this review, we searched for studies available in public databases and discussed the interaction of platelet biomarkers in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In this context, understanding the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 and these cells in different clinical conditions could help us to understand the coagulation and inflammation profiles of critically ill patients with the disease, guiding faster clinical management and enabling the reuse and targeting of more efficient therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID‐19 neurological manifestations were demonstrated during the pandemic, including cognitive impairment. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cognitive and behavioral complaints (such as dementia, MCI or SCD) in a outpatient sample with recent SARS‐COV2 infection. Specific: Evaluate the association of cognitive impairment with the presence of the polymorphism found in the APOE gene and with respiratory disease Method: Observational, longitudinal, prospective clinical study. Inclusion criteria: patients with confirmed Covid‐19. Patients are evaluated in an outpatient clinic. They are evaluated through a standardized attendance record, with somatic and cognitive neurological assessment. Cognitive assessment involves the application of cognitive (ACER, MMSE and CDR), functional (Pfeffer) and psychiatric (GDS or Beck) screening instruments, in addition to subsequent extensive neuropsychological assessment. In addition, APOE polymorphism is analysed. Results: To date, 200 patients were evaluated. The average age is 46.5 years, with 65.4% female, 79.16% with 8 or more years of schooling, in addition to 57.5% of the sample with cognitive complaints. Conclusions: The results so far in our study demonstrate that cognitive complaints are frequent in patients even in the chronic phase of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: SARS-CoV-2 infection presents different severity levels that suggest the influence of genetic factors on the clinical outcome of the disease. In cases of severe COVID-19, the presence of elevated coagulation markers, increased platelet activation and aggregation and the risk of thrombotic complications are described. Given the participation of these cells in several serious viral infections and their negative role when associated with a prothrombotic response, it is important to understand the mechanistic role of SARS-CoV-2 in platelet physiology. This study evaluated the hyperexpression of platelet-activating factor receptor (PTAFR) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) in unvaccinated and hospitalized patients with COVID-19., Patients and Methods: The study included 43 COVID-19 patients stratified according to WHO guidelines. Subsequently, the expression of the PTAFR and PF4 genes were evaluated using the real-time quantitative PCR and their possible correlation with the severity of the disease and clinical variables including hospitalization, outcome, sex, age and laboratory parameters (platelet count, INR and D-dimer)., Results: The analysis demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) hyperexpression of these genes COVID-19 patients (n=43) compared to healthy controls. Expression of these genes in patients was not statistically significant (p>0.05) different between patients stratified according to clinical variables., Conclusion: The expression of PTAFR and PF4 suggests an important molecular pathway in the pathophysiology of the disease and may be valuable platelet biomarkers to indicate increased risk in patients with COVID-19 who require hospital care, contributing to personalized intervention strategies and improving their clinical management., (Copyright © 2024, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)