ABSTRACT
Here, we review thematic publications in available literature sources of the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary, 49 of which were dated of the years 1997-2022. Analysis of such reports is aimed at assessing features of cytokine storm-induced hyperinflammatory reaction with signs of immunosuppression accompanied by pronounced lymphopenia and lowered count of CD4(+)T helpers during severe COVID-19. The prognostic factor for unfavorable prognosis was based on the marker of systemic inflammatory reaction correlating with the disease severity - the soluble IL-2 receptor as well as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the lymphocyte subset imbalance. An immunosuppressive therapy of severe forms of COVID-19, aimed at weakening the inflammatory response, exacerbates immune dysfunction by suppressing the T cell function, mainly due to Th1 lymphocytes involved in recognizing and eliminating intracellular pathogens particularly viruses. Upon that, cell-mediated immunity becomes compromised that relies on cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells and macrophages. Timely and targeted immunocorrection is required to prevent or reduce the immunosuppression that accompanies a severe disease course and leads to serious and prolonged complications, as well as to association of secondary infections. In fight against the cytokine storm, it is important not to miss a time point of developing immunosuppressive condition that transitions into immunoparalysis as follows from recent publications covering the tactics of treating immune-mediated complications of coronavirus infection. The review discusses opportunities for immunosuppressive therapy along with glucocorticosteroids and monoclonal antibodies blocking IL-6 or cognate receptors. Studies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to reduce systemic inflammatory response at COVID-19 are outlined in the review. The use of antigen-specific Treg and their combinations with antagonists of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) as well as low-dose IL-2 in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed. The prognostic perspectives for CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells technology have been considered as novel therapeutic approaches aimed at "training" effector cells to recognize the surface SARS-CoV-2 virus spike-like (S) protein. The feasibility of a therapeutic approach is also emphasized by comparatively analyzed of efficacy of using IL-7 or IL-15 during lymphopenia in patients with COVID-19. Here, side effects complicating immunocorrection come to the fore. Critical evaluation of corrected immunosuppressive conditions in patients with COVID-19 in the post-COVID-19 period by using low-dose IL-2 therapy revealed its ability to repair cellular immune response. As a result, a low-dose IL-2 therapy is recommended as a cytokine replacement therapy in such patients with COVID-19 during hyper-to-hypo-inflammatory phase transition in immune response.
ABSTRACT
Purpose. To establish the factors influencing the progression of chronic coronary heart disease (CCHD) in patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis after COVID-19 infection. Materials and methods. Included 45 patients with CCHD and postinfarction cardiosclerosis from among those who were under dynamic observation in the CCHD laboratory of the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre "Cardiology". All included in the study were divided into 2 groups: group I (31 patients) – after COVID-19, group II – patients with CCHD who did not have a COVID infection – 14. The I test was carried out in the pre-Covid period, the II test – within 1-3 months after documented COVID-19. Examination included echocardiography (EchoCG), computed tomographic angiography (CTA) of the coronary arteries (CA), magnetic resonance imaging. Results. Risk factors influenced on the progression of CCHD in patients after COVID-19 are: increased for more than 1 month levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cardiac troponin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), D-dimer. All mentioned factors contributed to the progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis. The coronavirus infection affected the enlargement of the left ventricle and the right parts of the heart, the deterioration of the systolic-diastolic function of both ventricles, including an increase in pressure in the pulmonary artery. The consequence of these changes was the progression of signs of heart failure according to echocardiography and the n-terminal fragment of the natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), an increase in the zones of myocardial ischemia compared with the pre-COVID period, and more frequent and significant ventricular arrhythmia. © 2022, Professionalnye Izdaniya. All rights reserved.