Lupus anticoagulants as a prospective independent predictor in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Objective: Lupus anticoagulant (LA) are commonly detected during SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the relationship between LA and clinical significance is still unclear.

Methods: A retrospective chart analysis was performed on COVID-19 patients who were tested for LA at our hospital from March 2020 to November 2021. We analyzed the patient's characteristics based on the result of the LA test. In addition, subgroup analysis performed the LA-positive group who had undergone serial LA tests.

Results: A total of 219 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study, 148 patients (67.6%) were positive for LA test. The LA-positive group received more treatment of high flow nasal cannula (LA-positive 73.0%, LA-negative 57.7%, p = 0.024). The LA-positive group showed prolonged aPTT, higher levels of CRP and fibrinogen (all p's < 0.05). Among 148 LA-positive patients, 127 patients (86.5%) were found to be LA-positive within 10 days of SARS-CoV-2 positive, and LA-positive group confirmed a median time to LA loss of 10 days. However, there was a group that was negative for LA in the early stages of infection and became positive about 13 days later. A subgroup analysis showed that these patients had different characteristics due to their longer hospital stays and higher D-dimer levels.

Conclusions: In COVID-19 patients, LA is expected to be associated to disease severity. Since the clinical significance of LA is different depending on the onset time of LA positivity, the LA test is suggested to be done at diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, even if LA is negative, follow-up test should be considered within 10 days.