Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2020 · DOI: 10.3390/jpm10040182 · Published: October 21, 2020
This study investigates why spinal cord injury (SCI) patients seem to experience milder COVID-19 symptoms compared to the general population. Researchers used an 'omics' approach to identify protein variations in SCI patients with and without COVID-19, potentially revealing molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon. The study found differences in protein abundance related to coagulation and platelet activation in SCI patients with COVID-19. These differences suggest that heparin, a medication used to prevent blood clots, may play a crucial role in how SCI patients respond to COVID-19 infection. These findings may offer insights into new therapeutic strategies for managing COVID-19 in SCI patients and possibly the general population. By understanding the specific protein signatures in SCI patients with COVID-19, researchers hope to find ways to improve clinical outcomes.
The study supports the use of heparin as a treatment for COVID-19, particularly in SCI patients, and suggests that a higher heparin dose may be both effective and safe in this population.
The identified protein signatures can potentially be used as biomarkers to monitor disease progression and treatment response in SCI patients with COVID-19.
The findings provide insights into the unique response of SCI patients to COVID-19, highlighting the role of coagulation and platelet activation in disease severity.