Blood phenotype O and indirect bilirubin are associated with lower, early COVID-19-related mortality: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ABO blood type and indirect bilirubin to predict early mortality in adults with severe COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted on 268 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who had attended the intensive care unit (ICU), Quena general hospital and Luxor International Hospital, and other hospitals or centers for the treatment of COVID-19, during the period from January 2021 till December 2021. RESULTS: Relation between mortality and ABO group were highly significant, as we found non-O blood group with more risk of early mortality and intensive care unit admission ICU. There were significant differences between dead and alive cases as regards platelets, white blood cells WBCs (neutrophil, lymphocyte), albumin, liver enzymes aspartate transeferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), total direct and indirect bilirubin, creatinine, and urea. CONCLUSION: There was a highly significant relation between dead cases and ABO blood group as between the O and non-O groups; also, group O was associated with less severe manifestations and or ventilation and less mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. Direct bilirubin >0.5 was found to be the best predictor for mortality in cases with COVID-19 so indirect bilirubin may be considered a good protector against complications of the infection.

GDF-15 is associated with atherosclerosis in adults with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

OBJECTIVES: To study serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) serum level in ß-thalassemia patients and its relation to carotid intima-media thickness. BACKGROUND: Thalassemia is a common genetic disease resulting in decreased beta-chains, leading to manifested anemia. It may be subsequently complicated by iron overload, which induces numerous morbidities and even death. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a strong and independent predictor of mortality and disease progression in patients with atherosclerosis alongside with carotid-intimal media thickness (CIMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This monocentric case-control study was done on 90 subjects in the period from January 2020 to March 2021. Sixty transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDßT) cases (≥18 years) were selected from the thalassemia clinic of Hematology division at Menoufia University hospitals. We included also 30 sex and age matched healthy as the controls. Routine investigations were done beside. Serum GDF-15 was measured by ELISA. CIMT was measured by Doppler Ultrasonography. RESULTS: CIMT on both sides was statistically significant higher in cases (median of 0.08 cm) than in the controls (median of 0.04). GDF-15 was also significantly higher in cases (median of 1839.89 pg/dl) than in controls (median of 256.14 pg/dl). So, we found that GDF-15 is a predictor of and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults (OR = 39.198, p value 0.008, 95% CI: 2.576-596.5). CONCLUSION: GDF- 15 is increased in TDßT. CIMT (as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis) is increased in these patients alongside with GDF-15, is a predictor, and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults.

Impact of indirect bilirubin and uric acid on outcomes of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (sAKI).

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent pathophysiologic disorders encountered in hospitalized patients, with sepsis frequently implicated in pathogenesis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) seem to have a significant contribution to sepsis-induced AKI. Proposed mechanisms include induction of cell membrane lipid peroxidation, protein denaturing, and direct DNA damage, all of which have deleterious effect. These changes constitute oxidative injury to the kidneys. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant actions of indirect bilirubin and uric acid on outcomes of sepsis-associated AKI. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), at a large tertiary center, with sepsis and AKI were evaluated for serum levels of uric acid, bilirubin (primarily indirect), and procalcitonin. The primary endpoints studied were the need for hemodialysis and death. RESULTS: Thirty-two (33%) patients developed AKI requiring hemodialysis (HD). These patients had higher SOFA scores (p < 0.001) and lower levels of indirect bilirubin (p < 0.001) compared to those not requiring HD. There was no statistically significant difference in serum uric acid levels. Logistic regression analysis identified creatinine level, total and indirect bilirubin levels, and leukocyte count as significant predictors of patient death. CONCLUSION: Higher leukocyte counts and creatinine levels were independently associated with poor outcomes in ICU patients with sepsis. Additionally, lower indirect bilirubin levels were also noted to be associated with similar outcomes. The latter provides insights into oxidative stress as a major player in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced AKI, with a potential protective role of indirect bilirubin.

Endothelial Activation and Immune Thrombocytopenia: An Engagement Waiting for Consolidation.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) appears to be a heterogeneous disease. In some patients, autoimmunity may be associated with an inflammatory process, and in other patients, low platelets may interfere with other aspects of the coagulation system. Either may predispose to thrombosis or bleeding. Further investigation of the interactions of platelets, with inflammatory cytokines and endothelial biomarkers, may help us to better understand the disease, and to recognize those patients at risk of bleeding, or conversely thrombosis. The aim of this work is to estimate von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular cellular adhesion molecule (V-CAM) serum levels in adult immune thrombocytopenic patients (ITP) and to decipher their possible clinical correlates. Eighty adults (≥ 18 years) were enrolled in the study; naive newly diagnosed 40 patients with primary ITP (according to the ASH 2019) and 40 sex and age-matched healthy controls, all groups are subjected for complete blood count (CBC), liver, and renal function tests, ESR, CRP, V-CAM, and VWF-Ag by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was a highly statistically significant difference between case and control as regards to the mean level of VWF-Ag and V-CAM. vWF and V-CAM could serve as biomarkers for endothelial alterations and should be investigated as a predictor of thrombocytopenic bleeding and tailor patient management accordingly.

Thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers to predict sepsis outcome.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis has been redefined recently as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection and septic shock. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) concentration positively correlate to the activation level of the immune system, and are markers of disease severity and aggressiveness. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to identify the blood level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) in sepsis and its association with mortality. PATIENT AND METHODS: This is an observational prospective study that enrolled 60 adult patients with sepsis (according to SOFA), admitted to Menoufia and Zagazig university hospitals during the period from December 2019 till October 2020. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) were checked in all participants. RESULTS: SuPAR and PAI.1 were significant independent predictors of hospital mortality. SuPAR showed sensitivity 100%, specificity 95.9%, and accuracy 94% for prediction of early mortality at a cutoff value of 13.4(pg/ml). While, PAI-1 demonstrated sensitivity 100%, specificity 93.9%, and accuracy of 95% at a cutoff value of 122.5 for predicting mortality. CONCLUSION: PAI-1 and suPAR were significant predictors of hospital mortality among sepsis patients. The sample size was relatively small, which may have decreased the statistical power of the results of the present study. Hence, additional studies with large sample sizes are required for further validation of the present results.

Platelet indices as an assessment tool of septic acute kidney injury.

Platelet (PLT), one of blood cells, plays a major role in physiological and pathological processes such as coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, and keeping the integrity of vascular endothelium. There are a group of parameters that are used to measure the total amount of PLTs, PLTs morphology, and proliferation. PLT indices are associated with the severity of illness and patients' prognosis. It was reported that mean platelet volume (MPV) was raising synchronously with interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein in sepsis, and was correlated to the severity of the disease. We aimed to study PLT indices and its changes in sepsis and septic acute kidney injury (AKI) patients to assess the disease and its severity. The present study is a cross-sectional study, had been carried out at Menoufia University hospitals from August 2017 to August 2019. The various platelet indices [MPV, platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT)] are considered as outcome variables were compared among controls, cases with sepsis, and cases with sepsis associated AKI. Group I (31) cases with the clinical diagnosis of septic AKI, Group II (33) cases with the diagnosis of sepsis, and Group III (28) consecutive persons marked as negative in the output of the cell counter were taken as controls. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. There were 15 men and 15 women for Group I (septic AKI), 17 males and 16 females for Group II (sepsis) and 15 men and 13 women healthy controls as a control group. According to PLT indices MPV, there was a significant statistical difference (P1 <0.01) between Group I and II of patients as it were12.06 ± 1.23, 11.01 ± 1.20, respectively, and PDW also there was a significant statistical difference (P1 <0.01) as it were16.01 ± 2.33, 13.97 ± 2.14, respectively, and PCT there was no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, there was a significant statistical difference between Group I and II of patients according to procalcitonin, TNF-α and IL-10. From these results, we conclude that there were a statistical significant difference between the patient groups of critically ill.

Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9) Gene C/T (rs352140) Polymorphisms in Adult Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by low platelet count and increased bleeding risk. The initial event(s) leading to antiplatelet autoimmunity remains unclear. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most well-characterized pattern recognition receptors and are a transmembrane protein coded by the Toll genes family. In addition to their protective role in immunity, it is also becoming clear that TLRs exhibit homeostatic roles. Toll-like receptors play potential roles in the development of disease and its maintenance. The objective of this study is to evaluate the distribution of TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms and its possible association with clinicopathological finding in Egyptian adult primary ITP. This study was carried out at Internal Medicine Department, Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt, from August 2018 to January 2020. Eighty adults (≥ 18 years) were enrolled in the study; 40 patients with primary ITP and 40 healthy individuals as controls. Identification of the TLR9 C/T (rs352140) polymorphic variant was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. In our study, we excluded any other causes of secondary ITP. Distribution of the TLR9 C/T genotypes did not exhibit significant deviation between patients and controls. There was no significant difference between studied groups as regards allele (C and T) frequency. There was no significant difference regarding TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms between Egyptian adult with primary ITP and controls. TLR9 gene C/T (rs352140) polymorphisms have no relation to any of the clinicohematological variables in primary ITP in Egyptians.

Autoantibodies in chronic liver disease.

Some hepatotropic viruses (HBV and HCV) are capable of triggering autoimmune phenomena and manifest the features of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in the course of the disease. Careful attention is required to differentiate between AIH and chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) before the selection of treatment. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA), anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibodies type I (ALKMA1) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) among patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD), and to assess the diagnostic value of these autoantibodies and their relation to HCV viral load and genotype and treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Five groups of patients with CLD (HCV, HBV, HCC, AIH and schistosomal hepatic fibrosis {SHF}) as well as a group of age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All the studied persons were subjected to full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations, including liver function tests, hepatitis markers, and HCV RNA by PCR. Detection of ANA, ASMA, APCA, AMA and ALKMA-1 was done by indirect immunofluorescence technique, while ANCA and RF were detected by EIA and latex agglutination test respectively. Results showed a significantly higher prevalence of RF, ASMA and ANCA among patients with CHC, RF and ASMA among HCC patients and ASMA and ALKMA1, among AIH patients as compared to the control group. Patients with HBV and those with SHF had a non-significantly higher prevalence of RF, ASMA and ANCA compared to controls. However, AMA was not detected in this study, and APCA showed no significant difference between the studied groups. The occurrence of these autoantibodies was not significantly related to HCV viral load, HCV genotype or treatment with IFN-alpha. There was a significant association between the occurrence of RF, ANA, ASMA, and ALKMA1 and high ALT levels, and between the occurrence of ANA, ASMA and ALKMA-1 and high AST and ALP levels. In conclusion, autoantibodies are commonly found among patients with HCV infection. The co-existence of HCV infection and autoimmune hepatitis should be considered in patients who are positive for both viral markers and autoantibodies and thorough evaluation of patients must be performed before selection of treatment. Testing for RF, ASMA and ANCA may have a good diagnostic value, however, AMA is the least useful in diagnosis.