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Analysis of institutional authors

Martin Leon-Tello, Luz MariaAuthorMartin Fragueir, Luz MariaAuthorSalas CAuthorRamasco-Rueda FAuthorFraga JAuthorJiménez-Heffernan JaAuthor

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October 19, 2020
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Increased number of pulmonary megakaryocytes in COVID-19 patients with diffuse alveolar damage: an autopsy study with clinical correlation and review of the literature

Publicated to:VIRCHOWS ARCHIV. 478 (3): 487-496 - 2021-03-01 478(3), DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02926-1

Authors: Valdivia-Mazeyra, Mariel F; Salas, Clara; Nieves-Alonso, Jesus M; Martin-Fragueiro, Luz; Barcena, Carmen; Munoz-Hernandez, Patricia; Villar-Zarra, Karen; Martin-Lopez, Javier; Ramasco-Rueda, Fernando; Fraga, Javier; Jimenez-Heffernan, Jose A

Affiliations

Hospital del Henares - Author
Hospital Universitario 12 de octubre - Author
Hospital Universitario de la Princesa - Author
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro - Author
Univ Hosp 12 Octubre, Dept Pathol, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Hosp Henares, Dept Pathol, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Hosp La Princesa, Dept Anesthesia & Surg Crit Care, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Hosp La Princesa, Dept Pathol, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Hosp Puerta Hierro, Dept Pathol, Madrid, Spain - Author
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Abstract

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Pulmonary megakaryocytes participate in the pathogenesis of lung damage, particularly in acute lung injury. Although megakaryocytes are not mentioned as a characteristic histologic finding associated to pulmonary injury, a few studies reveal that their number is increased in diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). In this autopsy study, we have observed a relevant number of pulmonary megakaryocytes in COVID-19 patients dying with acute lung injury (7.61 ± 5.59 megakaryocytes per 25 high-power fields vs. 1.14 ± 0.86 for the control group, p < 0.05). We analyzed samples of 18 patients, most of whom died after prolonged disease and use of mechanical ventilation. Most patients showed advanced DAD and abnormal coagulation parameters with high levels of fibrinogen, D-dimers, and variable thrombocytopenia. For comparison, pulmonary samples from a group of 14 non-COVID-19 patients dying with DAD were reviewed. They showed similar pulmonary histopathologic findings and an increase in the number of megakaryocytes (4 ± 4.17 vs. 1.14 ± 0.86 for the control group, p < 0.05). Megakaryocyte count in the COVID-19 group was greater but did not reach statistical significance (7.61 ± 5.59 vs. 4 ± 4.17, p = 0.063). Regardless of the cause, pulmonary megakaryocytes are increased in patients with DAD. Their high number seen in COVID-19 patients suggests a relation with the thrombotic events so often seen these patients. Since the lung is considered an active site of megakaryopoiesis, a prothrombotic status leading to platelet activation, aggregation and consumption may trigger a compensatory pulmonary response.

Keywords

covid-19diffuse alveolar damagemegakaryocytessevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2thrombocytopeniaCovid-19Diffuse alveolar damageMegakaryocytesSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2ThrombocytopeniaThrombosis

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal VIRCHOWS ARCHIV due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Medicine (Miscellaneous).

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 6.86. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 3.52 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 18.29 (source consulted: Dimensions Oct 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-10-21, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 41
  • Scopus: 45
  • Europe PMC: 28

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-10-21:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 72.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 72 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 4.7.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 6 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (JIMENEZ HEFFERNAN, JOSE ANTONIO).