Impact of low molecular weight heparin administration on the clinical course of the COVID-19 disease

Authors: BURCU YORMAZ, DİLEK ERGÜN, BAYKAL TÜLEK, RECAİ ERGÜN, UĞUR ARSLAN, FİKRET KANAT

Abstract: Background: Lymphopenia is the most important criterion of mortality and discharging feature for patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment on the clinical course of COVID-19. Materials and methods: Patients' clinical symptoms, radiologic outcomes, hematologic, biochemical, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP) results were obtained from their medical records. Participants were separated into 2 groups: one was treated with LMWH and the other was not. Improvement in the patients was compared before and after treatment. Results: Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between April and May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The multivariable analysis showed that the count of lymphocytes, D-dimer, and CRP levels were significantly improved in the LMWH group, as compared to the control group (OR, (95% CI) 0.628 (0.248-0.965), P < 0.001); OR, (95% CI) 0.356 (0.089-0.674), P < 0.001, respectively). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was AUC: 0.679 ± 0.055, 0.615 ± 0.058, and 0.633 ± 0.057, respectively; the ß-value was found to be -1.032, -0.026, and -0.465, respectively. Conclusion: The LMWH treatment group demonstrated better laboratory findings, including recovery in the lymphocyte count, CRP, and D-dimer results.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease-19, heparin, antiinflammatory, lymphocyte

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