Microcirculatory changes and thrombotic complications in COVID-19

Abstract

Despite its many devastating effects, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive impact in the ways in which society, scientific institutions, governing bodies, businesses, educational organisations, and communication have functioned unchallenged over the years. Rapid advancement in science enabled identification and characterisation of the virus and in developing vaccines to combat the disease. The mysterious ways in which the virus attacks the vital organs that lead on to multiorgan failure and thrombosis of the arterial and venous system have also been revealed. The ability to study the microcirculatory changes at the bedside and predict prognosis is a way forward. All the evidence suggests that the outcome of COVID-19 infection is related to the severity of the disease seen in the intensive care unit setting. This article discusses microcirculatory changes and immune coagulopathy caused by COVID-19.