ABSTRACT
Background: The WHO emphasized the importance of knowing the risk factors for the severity of the disease in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim in this study was to determine the relationship between serum Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) level, which is rapidly affected by inflammation, and the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia and mortality. Methods: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia between March and May 2021 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as severe and mild to moderate pneumonia according to the WHO's guidelines. Serum BChE levels were studied by ELISA method from the blood samples taken from the patients on the day of hospitalization. The severity of the disease and other factors affecting hospital mortality were also evaluated. Results: 147 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included in this study. Of these patients, 58% had severe pneumonia and 42% had mild to moderate pneumonia. The BChE level was median 13 (IQR: 11.2-21.5)ng/ml in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and median 20 (IQR: 10-35.7)ng/ml in patients with mild to moderate pneumonia (p: 0.001). Hospital with mortality rate was higher in patients with low BChE levels. However, statistically, BChE hasn't associated mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia [OR 1.002 (0.957-1.049) p: 0.490]. CRP, procalcitonin, lactate, and D-dimer levels were associated mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia. Conclusion: Being not statistically significant, the mortality rate was higher in patients with low BChE levels. BChE level is an important marker in determining the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Early prediction of the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia will enable early planning of the treatment process.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) increase the risk of excessive blood clotting, but their role in COVID-19 remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the presence of conventional APAs used in the classification of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with severe lung infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare these results with non-COVID-19 critically ill patients. METHODS: Thirty-one COVID-19 patients (COVID group) and 28 non-COVID-19 critically ill patients (non-COVID group), were included in the study. Anti-cardiolipin (ACA) (IgG, IgM), anti-ß2-glycoprotein 1 (Anti-ß2GPI) (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and if the patient had not received any anti thrombotic agent before blood collection, lupus anticoagulant (LAC) tests were studied from the plasma of the patients. For testing ACA and Anti-ß2GPI, ELISA method was used, while fully automated coagulometer device was used for LAC test. RESULTS: APAs were positive in 25.81% in the COVID group (8/31) and 25% in the non-COVID group (7/28). LAC was the most common APA present in 23.08% of the COVID-19 group, who underwent measurement (6/26), while 3.57% of the non-COVID group was LAC positive (1/28) (p = .047). In the COVID group, ACA IgM, and IgG were positive in 6.45% and 0%, respectively (2/31 vs 0/31). In the non-COVID group, ACA IgM was not positive in any patient, while ACA IgG was positive in 7.14% (2/28). Anti-ß2GPI IgG and IgM tests were not positive in any patient in either the COVID or the non-COVID group. Anti-ß2GPI IgA were positive in 6.45% and 14.29%, respectively (2/31 vs 4/28). CONCLUSION: In this study, APAs were equally positive in critically ill patients among COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients. Only LAC was more observed in COVID-19 patients.