The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exerted significant strain on healthcare worldwide. Mostly asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 is described as a thrombo-inflammatory syndrome,1 with severe respiratory illness occurring in about 13% of affected patients. This can rapidly transform into a life-threatening condition in about 4% of cases (particularly those with comorbidities), characterised by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis and coagulopathy/disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC).
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