Rotational Thromboelastometry predicts care level in COVID-19

The objective of the study was to test whether Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) indicate hypercoagulopathy at hospitalization of COVID-19 patients, and whether patients with severe disease have a more pronounced hypercoagulopathy compared with less severely ill patients. The study was designed as a prospective observational study where COVID-19 positive patients over 18 years admitted to Capio St Göran’s Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, were eligible for inclusion. Patients were divided into two groups depending on care level: 1) regular wards (40 patients) or 2) wards with specialized ventilation support (20 patients). ROTEM and other coagulation tests (see table for a list and explanation of variables) was taken after admission and the data were compared with ROTEM in healthy controls. Conclusion ROTEM variables (EXTEM-MCF, FIBTEM-MCF, EXTEM-CT, EXTEM-CFT) were significantly different in COVID-19 patients early after admission compared with healthy controls. This pattern was more pronounced in patients with increased disease severity, suggesting that ROTEM-analysis could be a potentially useful predictor of thromboembolic complications and mortality in these patients. For details, see publication at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-020-02312-3