Welder D, Jeon-Slaughter H, Ashraf B, et al. - Researchers have revealed a higher inflammatory response and platelet hyper-reactivity in patients with SARS-COV-2 infection, which suggest the role of thrombopoiesis in COVID-19 infection. For thrombopoiesis assessment, immature platelet fraction (IPF, %) and immature platelet counts (IPC, x109/L) can be used. Researchers herein investigated if there is a correlation between the level of thrombopoiesis and COVID-19 severity. Analysis was performed including a large cohort of 678 well-characterized COVID-19 patients, comprising 658 (97%) hospitalized patients and 139 patients (21%) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Findings suggest a possible utility of elevated initial and peak values of IPF% and IPC as prognostic biomarkers for COVID progression to severe conditions.