Posted on 06/19/2020 8:23:23 AM PDT by amorphous
Blood samples from Covid-19 patients showed sicker patients had a high concentration of Alpha-defensin, a peptide involved in blood clots formation.
Researchers around the world have been puzzled by a deadly Covid-19 complication: blood clots that can cause swollen legs, rashes and even sudden death.
More than 30 percent of Covid-19 patients suffer from blood clots, which create lethal blockages in the lungs, kidneys, heart and brain.
Dr. Abd Al-Roof Higazi, head of the Division of Laboratories and Department of Clinical Biochemistry at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, has found the mechanism that causes the clots.
Higazi and colleagues published a paper last year in the American Society of Hematology journal Blood about the peptide Alpha-defensin. They discovered that this peptide speeds up the creation of blood clots and prevents their disintegration.
This background helped them understand what was happening to Covid-19 patients because existing anticoagulant drugs don’t impact Alpha-defensin.
“We took blood samples from 80 patients in Hadassah’s Outbreak Department and found a high concentration of Alpha-defensin,” said Higazi. “The sicker the person, the higher the concentration of this peptide.”
Higazi and lab manager Suhair Abdeen are working on a new way to dissolve the blood clots. They are testing colchicine, an oral medication used for gout and familial Mediterranean fever. It has succeeded in reducing Alpha-defensin levels and blood clots in mice.
They are waiting approval to begin human trials.
Higazi said if the drug can dissolve blood clots in Covid-19 patients, it could vastly reduce the numbers of patients needing respirators.
“These patients have numerous blood clots in their lungs, preventing normal blood flow,” he explained. “We can also give it to those with mild symptoms to prevent the development of blood clots.”
Which came first, the blood clots or the ventilators???
The clots.
They’re why the ventilators didn’t work.
Interesting article.
amorphous wrote:
“Colchicine, along with recent news of a ‘Remarkably cheap’ steroid called dexamethasone should improve COVID-19 survival, “IF” approved.”
Thanks for the info & link.
there is a test when it comes to Joint infection. wonder if this would be a clue as why people have such joint pain with covid
https://www.zimmerbiomet.com/medical-professionals/diagnostics/synovasure-alpha-defensin-test.html
Bump
Alpha Defensin
Alpha defensins are produced mainly in neutrophils and Paneth cells, while the beta defensins are widely expressed in epithelial tissues, including those of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive systems and the skin.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/alpha-defensin
More than thirty percent suffer blood clots? Find that hard to believe. More like thirty percent of patients sick enough to be hospitalized would be my guess.
Wonder how many of those with severe joint pain will need replacement surgery in the future...
Wonder if this affects ovaries like it does testes...
Follicular fluid expression of alpha-defensins and their role in ovulation
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10815-007-9197-7
that would make more sense
No, I think the 30% is plausible. Keep in mind that the common “coronatoes” symptom is actually due to blood clots.
Agree. Do "more than 30 percent" of flu sufferers develop blood clots? I don't think so. Blood clots in blood vessels leads to damaged vessels which remain with us for life. The body has ways of growing new vessels, or enlarging surrounding vessels to take over for damaged ones in some cases, but the damage is done, and this probably explains the permanent lung scaring, heart damage, and etc., seen in covid patients.
“... should improve COVID-19 survival, “IF” approved.”
No approval needed. These are both old drugs. If a provider wants to prescribe them there should be no problem unless President Trump mentions them first.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4937355/
Human neutrophil peptides inhibit cleavage of von Willebrand factor by ADAMTS13: a potential link of inflammation to TTP
Anticoagulants are a frontline treatment even at symptom onset
At least this study will determine which are effective
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.