Background. The aim of the study was to assess the degree of peripheral oxidative stress in patients with a positive finding of COVID-19 hospitalized with verified pneumonia.
Patients and methods. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, lipid peroxides and total antioxidant capacity were determined spectrophotometrically in patients hospitalized at the Department of Pneumology, Phthisiology and Functional Diagnostics of the Faculty of Medicine, SMU in 2021. At the same time, risk factors for disease progression were assessed: BMI, age and sex in relation to inflammatory, hematological, coagulation and oxidative stress parameters.
Results. Lymphocytopenia, elevated levels of D-dimers and fibrinogen were observed in the patients we monitored. Lipid oxidative damage products were significantly higher in patient’s serum than healthy controls, indicating a predominance of prooxidative mechanisms. Hospitalized men with COVID-19 infection had significantly lower levels of D-dimers, significantly higher levels of fibrinogen and lipid oxidative damage products, and increased serum antioxidant capacity. Elderly patients (over 65 years of age) showed higher values of inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, PCT) as well as statistically significantly increased levels of D-dimers, which may indicate an increased susceptibility to hypercoagulable conditions in elderly patients. Elevated D-dimer levels, lymphocytopenia, and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity correlated with a more severe course, a worse prognosis, and an increased risk of death in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.
Conclusion. In addition to the clinical examination of the patient, it is necessary to look for new biomarkers suitable for screening, clinical and therapeutic management, or prevention of serious complications. The parameters of oxidative damage of macromolecules also have the potential to be a marker predicting the course of infection (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 19). Text in PDF www.lekarskyobzor.sk.
KEY WORDS: SARS-CoV-2, pneumonia, oxidative stress.
Lek Obz 2022, 71 (11): 458-462
Monika ĎURFINOVÁ 1, Miroslava BRÁZDOVÁ 1, Lenka HORŇÁKOVÁ 1, Štefan LAŠŠÁN 2, Ladislav TURECKÝ 1
1 Ústav lekárskej chémie, biochémie a klinickej biochémie LF UK v Bratislave, prednosta ústavu prof. MUDr. L. Turecký, CSc.
2 Klinika pneumológie, ftizeológie a funkčnej diagnostiky LF SZU a UNB, prednosta kliniky MUDr. Š. Laššán, PhD., MPH
CITE
ĎURFINOVÁ M., BRÁZDOVÁ M., HORŇÁKOVÁ L. et al.: Does oxidative stress contribute to the risk of hospitalization of patients with SARS-CoV-2? Lek Obz 2022, 71 (11): 458-462
