In late December 2019 an outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causing severe pneumonia (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. A common finding in most COVID-19 patients is high D-dimer levels which are associated with a worse prognosis. We aimed to evaluate coagulation abnormalities via traditional tests and whole blood thromboelastometry profiles in a group of 22 (mean age 67 ± 8 years, M:F 20:2) consecutive patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Padova University Hospital for acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Cases showed significantly higher fibrinogen and D-dimer plasma levels versus healthy controls (p < 0.0001 in both comparisons). Interestingly enough, markedly hypercoagulable thromboelastometry profiles were observed in COVID-19 patients, as reflected by shorter Clot Formation Time (CFT) in INTEM (p = 0.0002) and EXTEM (p = 0.01) and higher Maximum Clot Firmness (MCF) in INTEM, EXTEM and FIBTEM (p < 0.001 in all comparisons). In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure present a severe hypercoagulability rather than consumptive coagulopathy. Fibrin formation and polymerization may predispose to thrombosis and correlate with a worse outcome.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic which in our region, Veneto (Italy), dates back to February, we were confronted with several challenges, but with a constant aim of keeping our Stroke Unit COVID-free. For this reason, in addition to creating a dedicated hot-spot as a pre-triage just outside the Emergency Department, together with the Neuroradiology Unit we obtained a mobile CT unit that could be used by COVID-positive or COVID-suspected patients. Furthermore, thanks to the collaboration with colleagues from different specialties (Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine), dedicated areas for COVID patients were activated. This led to a substantial change of our acute stoke management pathway. As the number of COVID patients increased, and the WHO declared a state of pandemic, this new stroke pathway has been fully tested. We would like to share our experience and send a clear message to keep a high attention on stroke as an emergency condition, because we have observed a decreased number of patients with minor strokes and TIAs, longer onset-to-door and door-totreatment times for major strokes, and a reduced number of transfers from spokes. We strongly believe that the general population and family doctors are rightly focused on COVID. However, to remain at home with stroke symptoms does not mean to "stay safe at home".

and for the COVID-VTE Study Group Despite thromboprophylaxis, patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibit hypercoagulability and higher venous thromboembolic risk, although its real incidence is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with COVID-19 admitted to both intensive care units (ICUs) and medical wards (MWs). Consecutive patients admitted for COVID-19 to the MW and the ICU at Padua University Hospital, all receiving thromboprophylaxis, underwent systematic ultrasonography of the internal jugular, and the upper and lower limbs veins every 7 days (± 1 day) after the admission; and, if negative, once-weekly until discharge or death. In case of suspected pulmonary embolism, a multidetector computed tomographic angiography was performed. The primary outcome was the proportion of any deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and symptomatic pulmonary embolism in both groups. An extended blood coagulative test was performed as well. From March 4 to April 30, 2020, a total of 85 patients were investigated, 44 (52%) in MWs and 41 (48%) in the ICU. Despite thromboprophylaxis, VTE occurred in 12 patients in the MWs (27.3%) and 31 patients in the ICU (75.6%) with an odds ratio of 9.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5-24.5; P < 0.001). Multiple-site DVT occurred in 55.6% of patients (95% CI 39.6-70.5). Increased D-dimer levels significantly correlated with VTE (P = 0.001) and death (P = 0.015). Summarizing, patients with COVID-19 admitted to the MW or ICU showed a high frequency of venous thromboembolism, despite standard-dose or high-dose thromboprophylaxis. Whether thrombosis, particularly asymptomatic events, may play a role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 remain to be clarified.

Objectives Thrombin generation (TG) with and without thrombomodulin (TM) was evaluated in COVID-19 patients with different disease severity and thromboprophylaxis regimen, in order to understand the prothrombotic profile. Methods We enrolled consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to Medical Departments (MD) or Intensive Care Units (ICU), and 54 healthy controls. Results Eighty-nine patients were included (mean age 60.4±16.1 years, 68.5% male); 33.7% admitted to ICU. Twenty-four patients (26.9%) were enrolled before thromboprophylaxis administration; 45 patients (50.6%) received standard and 20 (22.5%) intermediate sub-therapeutic dose thromboprophylaxis. Overall, patients with COVID-19 showed a TG profile comparable to that of healthy subjects (i.e. comparable peak height, endogenous thrombin potential [ETP] with and without TM). The only exception was lag time and time to peak, prolonged in COVID-19 patients vs. controls. MD patients showed a similar TG profile to healthy controls, and ICU patients showed significantly decrease ETP (p=0.030) compared to MD. As for thromboprophylaxis, TG profile was significantly increased in COVID-19 patients without thromboprophylaxis vs. controls and vs. those with thromboprophylaxis. In this latter group, ETP inhibition was significantly decreased (p=0.0003) and positively correlated with anti-Xa activity (r=0.49, p=0.0017). However, patients with thromboprophylaxis had similar TG profile vs. controls. Intermediate dose thromboprophylaxis more effectively inhibited TG in severe COVID-19 patients by increasing ETP inhibition via ETP with TM reduction vs. standard dose. Conclusions COVID-19 patients showed increased TG at diagnosis. Standard thromboprophylaxis reduced TG to levels of healthy controls. Intermediate sub-therapeutic thromboprophylaxis more effectively inhibited TG by decreasing ETP with TM.

Background An increasing number of reports have described the COVID‐19–associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) as being a further contributing factor to mortality. Based on a recent consensus statement supported by international medical mycology societies, it has been proposed to define CAPA as possible, probable, or proven on the basis of sample validity and thus diagnostic certainty. Considering current challenges associated with proven diagnoses, there is pressing need to study the epidemiology of proven CAPA. Methods We report the incidence of histologically diagnosed CAPA in a series of 45 consecutive COVID‐19 laboratory‐confirmed autopsies, performed at Padova University Hospital during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Clinical data, laboratory data and radiological features were also collected for each case. Results Proven CAPA was detected in 9 (20%) cases, mainly in the second wave of the pandemic (7/17 vs. 2/28 of the first wave). The population of CAPA patients consisted of seven males and two females, with a median age of 74 years. Seven patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. All patients had at least two comorbidities, and concomitant lung diseases were detected in three cases. Conclusion We found a high frequency of proven CAPA among patients with severe COVID‐19 thus confirming at least in part the alarming epidemiological data of this important complication recently reported as probable CAPA.