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Earlier this year, the UK launched the randomized assessment of Covid-19 therapy (RECOVERY), which includes over 16,000 patients in 176 hospitals. They recently announced plans to include aspirin as an adjunct drug treatment in the RECOVERY studies due to its anti-clotting properties.
It has been observed that many patients with severe cases experience blood clotting, typically due to underlying conditions such as cardiovascular conditions. Aspirin can be used as an antiplatelet agent to reduce the risk of blood clots with patients with Covid-19.
Professor Peter Horby said aspirin is an important addition to studies because it is safe, inexpensive, widely available, and can be useful for critically ill patients. The tests will help determine whether the 160-year-old drug can be used as an effective treatment. At least 2,000 patients will randomly receive 150 milligrams of aspirin added to their standard treatment each day.
Professor Martin Landray explained how aspirin is used to treat various conditions associated with blood clots such as stroke and heart attack. The results will also reveal “whether there are clear benefits for patients with COVID-19 and whether those benefits outweigh potential side effects such as bleeding risk.”
Blood clots in patients with Covid-19
In early July, researchers published a study linking the coronavirus and blood clots or thrombosis of the legs, resulting in ischemia of the legs. Blood clots in the pulmonary arteries (lungs) had already been established earlier.
Inessa Goldman explained that coronavirus-associated leg ischemia resulted in a high rate of amputation or death. Patients with coronavirus and thrombosis have increased the risk of damaged arterial lining and other immune reactions.
In another study, autopsies of coronavirus patients also revealed thrombosis of the kidneys and heart. An important finding in the patients, while they were alive, was diffuse alveolar damage or the body’s response to lung tissue.
Thrombosis UK professor Beverly Hunt explained that Covid-19 causes the blood to be sticky, resulting in deep vein thrombosis. Researchers at Imperial College London have recommended adding blood-thinning drugs to the treatment of patients with Covid-19.
Read also: Coronavirus linked to blood clots in patients’ legs
Other traditional drugs and treatments
Currently, other treatments in the RECOVERY study include the antibiotic azithromycin, an injectable anti-inflammatory drug called Tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma from recovered donors. Regeneron has also developed a cocktail of antiviral antibodies called REGN-COV2.
The team will also measure the death rate after four weeks. Those who are allergic to aspirin or already have major bleeding will not be included in the study.
Other drug treatments have included anti-malaria hydroxychloroquine, FDA-approved remdesivir, and steroids. The World Health Organization also recently approved a protocol for phase three clinical trials of herbal medicine for the coronavirus.
Dr Prosper Tumusiime of WHO Africa said that “solid science is the only basis for safe and effective traditional medicine therapies”. The Ebola and Covid-19 outbreaks in Africa highlighted the need for advanced research into drug treatments, including traditional medicine, he said.
Read also: WHO approves protocol to test herbal medicines as COVID-19 treatment
Find out more news and information about coronavirus treatments in Science Times.
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