Hematologic Complications in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Infection

Introduction: This review summarizes data from patients with COVID-19 requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The goals of this study are to showcase some morphological anomalies found in peripheral blood smears from COVID-19 patients and to bring attention to how some hematologic abnormalities in COVID-19 that correspond to disease severity and mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of hematologic parameters using peripheral blood smear analysis from 31 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between April 2021 and January 2022. Results: We found abnormal morphology that has not been previously reported. We also report that severe lymphopenia, neutrophilia, acute hemolysis, hematologic malignancies, and increased LDH are associated with ICU admissions, respiratory failure requiring intubation, and poor clinical outcome. Conclusion: We propose these recommendations in the management of COVID-19 patients: 1. Early diagnosis and follow-up of DIC; 2. Optimization of thromboprophylaxis regimen.

Automated summary

This review summarizes data from COVID-19 patients requiring ICU admission, focusing on morphological anomalies in peripheral blood smears and hematologic abnormalities associated with disease severity and mortality. The study found previously unreported abnormal morphology and identified factors such as lymphopenia, neutrophilia, acute hemolysis, hematologic malignancies, and increased LDH as indicators of poor clinical outcome.