Biomarkers for the prediction of venous thromboembolism in critically ill COVID-19 patients

• Published in: Thrombosis research 2020-12, Vol.196, p.308-312
• Main Authors: Dujardin, Romein W.G., Hilderink, Bashar N., Haksteen, Wolmet E., Middeldorp, S., Vlaar, Alexander P.J., Thachil, J., Müller, Marcella C.A., Juffermans, Nicole P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers - blood; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; COVID-19; COVID-19 - blood; COVID-19 - complications; Critical Illness; D-dimer; Female; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - analysis; Full Length; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2; Venous thromboembolism; Venous Thromboembolism - diagnosis; Venous Thromboembolism - etiology
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2020.09.017

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is associated with mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment of VTE is warranted. To develop a prediction model for VTE in critically ill COVID-19 patients. In this retrospective cohort study, 127 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to the intensive care unit of two teaching hospitals were included. VTE was diagnosed with either ultrasound or computed tomography scan. Univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for Positive End Expiratory Pressure, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, platelet count, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time as well as levels of fibrinogen, antithrombin, D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP). Multivariate analysis was done using binary linear regression. Variables associated with VTE in both univariate and multivariate analysis were D-dimer and CRP with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64, P = 0.023 and 0.75, P = 0.045, respectively. Variables indicating hypoxemia were not predictive. The ROC curve of D-dimer and CRP combined had an AUC of 0.83, P  15 in combination with a CRP > 280 was 98%. The negative predictive value of D-dimer was low. Elevated CRP and D-dimer have a high positive predictive value for VTE in critically ill COVID-19 patients. We developed a prediction table with these biomarkers that can aid clinicians in the timing of imaging in patients with suspected VTE. •Venous thromboembolisms are a frequently observed complication of COVID-19.•Markers of oxygenation are not predictive of venous thromboembolism.•Elevated C-reactive protein and D-dimer have the potential to predict venous thromboembolism.•We created a prediction tool based on elevations in both CRP and D-dimer to optimize time of imaging.