SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit induces hypercoagulability The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), is characterized by a range of clinical presentations. The vascular complications of the condition include a range of various coagulopathies that cause bleeding and thrombocytopenia or a hypercoagulable state. A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server describes the role of a fibrinogen-related protein in inducing these clinical features of COVID-19. Cytokine dysregulation Earlier research has shown a change in circulating cytokines involved in the inflammatory and coagulation pathways, indicating dysregulation of these biomarkers and the endothelium. These include fibrin(ogen), D-dimer, P-selectin and von Willebrand Factor (VWF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and other cytokines that bind to endothelial receptors.