“The virus enters through the respiratory system and some organisms manage to contain it before it reaches the lung alveoli. But when it invades the capillaries that irrigate the lung, it begins to make holes in the endothelium [a layer of cells that lines the inside of the vessels] and this causes the blood to begin to clump. Microthrombi are formed that prevent the passage of blood to the lung structures where gas exchange takes place, ”she explains.

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Heparin helps to prevent this from happening through two mechanisms: the drug breaks down the microthrombi that prevent oxygen from passing from the alveolus to the small pulmonary arteries and, in addition, it helps in the recovery of the vascular endothelium.

Studies published in the last year indicate that approximately 15% of those infected with the new coronavirus develop changes in blood clotting. “This is the population that can benefit from heparin treatment, but timing is key,” says Negri.