Increased platelet activation and lower platelet-monocyte aggregates in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia

BACKGROUND: The increased procoagulant platelets and platelet activation are associated with thrombosis in COVID-19. In this study, we investigated platelet activation in COVID-19 patients and their association with other disease markers. METHODS: COVID-19 patients were classified into three severity groups: no pneumonia, mild-to-moderate pneumonia, and severe pneumonia. The expression of P-selectin and activated glycoprotein (aGP) IIb/IIIa on the platelet surface and platelet-leukocyte aggregates were measured prospectively on admission days 1, 7, and 10 by flow cytometry. RESULTS: P-selectin expression, platelet-neutrophil, platelet-lymphocyte, and platelet-monocyte aggregates were higher in COVID-19 patients than in uninfected control individuals. In contrast, aGPIIb/IIIa expression was not different between patients and controls. Severe pneumonia patients had lower platelet-monocyte aggregates than patients without pneumonia and patients with mild-to-moderate pneumonia. Platelet-neutrophil and platelet-lymphocyte aggregates were not different among groups. There was no change in platelet-leukocyte aggregates and P-selectin expression on days 1, 7, and 10. aGPIIb/IIIa expression was not different among patient groups. Still, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aGPIIb/IIIa expression was lower in severe pneumonia than in patients without and with mild-to-moderate pneumonia. Platelet-monocyte aggregates exhibited a weak positive correlation with lymphocyte count and weak negative correlations with interleukin-6, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, and nitrite. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients have higher platelet-leukocyte aggregates and P-selectin expression than controls, indicating increased platelet activation. Compared within patient groups, platelet-monocyte aggregates were lower in severe pneumonia patients.