Lessons learnt from COVID-19 coagulopathy

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has already left an indelible mark in human lives. Despite the havoc it created, this pandemic also saw significant advances in the management of an infectious disease wherein worldwide collaborative efforts from health care professionals have been unprecedented. One of the commonest complications recognised early in the pandemic is the development of coagulopathy. In this review, the lessons learnt from COVID-19 coagulopathy are summarised with some perspectives on future clinical and research strategies. These include how local versus systemic coagulopathy can matter, how we can put D-dimers to effective use, exhort more input into identifying a simple platelet activation marker, rethink the role of fibrinogen, look differently at lupus anticoagulant and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, bring back disseminated intravascular coagulation into our differential diagnosis slate and most importantly channel more funding into haemostasis and thrombosis research.