A closer look at endothelial injury-induced platelet hyperactivity and the use of aspirin in the treatment of COVID infection

Abstract

In this commentary, we make a case that the mechanism of COVID pathogenesis is related to virus-induced endothelial injury resulting in platelet activation and the formation of microthrombi both systemically and in cardiac and pulmnonary circulation which result in major causes of COVID morbidity and mortality. Aspirin by virtue of its irreversible inhibition of platelet COX-1, should reverse these platelet-induced pathogenic changes associated with COVID infection for the 6–9 day lifetime of the platelet. We also cite recent findings of a retrospective analysis that supports the use of low-dose (81 mg) aspirin to treat the symptoms associated with the early stages of COVID infection.