OBJECTIVE
To search for new effective, pathogenesis-based outpatient treatment methods for patients with new coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We examined 130 patients aged 45—75 years with severe COVID-19 and acute viral multisegmental pneumonia with lung tissue involvement of 30 to 63% who had previously received inpatient treatment. The patients were divided into four comparable groups according to the method of outpatient anticoagulant therapy. Group 1 (32 patients) received apixaban 2.5 mg BID for 1 month; Group 2 (32 patients) received apixaban in the same dosage for 6 months; Group 3 (32 patients) received sulodexide at 250 ULS BID and acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg/day for 1 month; Group 4 (34 patients) received sulodexide and acetylsalicylic acid in the same dosage for 6 months. Patients were examined 1, 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. A comparative efficacy and safety analysis was performed. The criteria were the occurrence/absence of clinically significant thrombosis, changes in the coagulation tests, and the presence/absence of hemorrhagic complications in each of the treatment groups.
RESULTS
Despite the ongoing treatment, venous thrombosis occurred in 18 (13.8%) patients, mostly in the groups that stopped anticoagulant therapy after one month. Changes in coagulation tests (aPTT, INR, PTT, fibrinogen, and platelets) were statistically insignificant, except for a decrease in D-dimer, which was observed in the groups receiving anticoagulant therapy for six months. There was no statistically significant increase in hemorrhagic complications in the groups receiving continuous anticoagulant therapy.
CONCLUSION
The data obtained suggest continuous anticoagulant therapy use (up to 6 months) in patients with severe COVID-19.