Serum VEGF-A levels on admission in COVID-19 patients correlate with SP-D and neutrophils, reflecting disease severity: A prospective study.
Cytokine
; 178: 156583, 2024 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38554499
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in significant global morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in COVID-19 patients and its association with disease severity and pulmonary injury.METHODS:
We prospectively collected data from 71 hospitalized COVID-19 patients between June 2020 and January 2021. Patients were classified as either mild or severe based on their oxygen requirements during hospitalization. Serum VEGF-A levels were measured using an ELISA kit.RESULTS:
In comparison to mild cases, significantly elevated serum VEGF-A levels were observed in severe COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, VEGF-A levels exhibited a positive correlation with white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count. Notably, serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D), an indicator of alveolar epithelial cell damage, was significantly higher in patients with elevated VEGF-A levels.CONCLUSION:
These results suggest that elevated serum VEGF-A levels could serve as a prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 as it is indicative of alveolar epithelial cell injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, we observed a correlation between VEGF-A and neutrophil activation, which plays a role in the immune response during endothelial cell injury, indicating a potential involvement of angiogenesis in disease progression. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of VEGF-A elevation in COVID-19.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Cytokine
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Year:
2024
Type:
Article