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Introduction: Zygomycetes consisting of Mucorales order is a group of fungal infections. These species cause life threatening opportunistic fungal infections mucormycosis. This infection is highly prevalent in immunocompromised. During the 2 nd wave of Covid 19 pandemic corticosteroid treatment was used which has been linked to development of Mucormycosis. In our tertiary care teaching hospital we saw that patients suffering from Covid-19 infections developed mucormycosis. We present these cases in our study. To study the clinical, demographical,and Laboratory parameters in Covid-19 patients with Mucormycosis. Material(s) and Method(s): Retrospective Study. All biopsy proven cases of Mucormycosis (which developed after Covid-19 infection) were included. Relevant Clinical Demographics and Laboratory data was retrieved from the available case sheets. The data was tabulated in Excel sheet and further reviewed. Result(s): A total of 22 patients were diagnosed as suffering from mucormycosis majority were unvaccinated. 11 patients out of 22 (50%) started manifesting mucormycosis within one week of COVID infection. All the patients who had only single comorbidity (22.72%) suffered from mild disease and patient who had more than one comorbidity suffered from moderate (27.27%) to severe (50%) COVID infection. Conclusion(s): It is suggested that patients with Covid-19 infection are at risk for development of opportunistic fungal infections like Mucormycosis. Hence the physicians who are involved in treating such patients must be mindful of the fact that mucormycosis can develop in them. Histopathology helps in establishing a concrete diagnosis of Mucormycosis.Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Professional researchers should consider T-cell responses, not just antibodies, for effective control of COVID-19 propagation. There have not been sufficient studies of the rhesus (Rh)-reactive with T cells to control COVID-19 propagation, especially when several patients with COVID-19 suffer from different neurological symptoms such as anosmia, dysgeusia, and strokes. Some initial factors of neurologic diseases in patients with COVID-19 can emerge through immune activation and inflammation within the central nervous system. Formation of autoantibody, altered glycosylation, enzymatic instability, and the induction of the host furin protease as a receptor can cause a higher COVID-19 propagation. Rh blood group can lead to a high or low incidence of COVID-19. Studying the effects of Rh factor on T-cell responses for COVID-19 infection related to inducing neurological conditions was the objective of this study. The speed of viral replication during COVID-19 infection is due to reduced induction of CD8+ T cells in blood type AB followed by B and then A than in blood type O. The Rh factor does not have a primary role in blood group O when infected with COVID-19. Blood type AB+, followed by B+, then A+ are assumed to have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection with the occurrence of possible neurological complications. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Objectives: Along the course human history of scientific research, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is the most concerning global health problem. Second wave of COVID-19 has adversely affected India. However, India embarked on its immunization program on January 16, 2021, operating 3006 vaccination centers onset Covaxin and CoviShield. This study aimed to ascertain if there is an association amidst ABO blood type and probability of COVID-19 infection in wave. Method(s): This is analytical and observational study conducted on 713 SARS-COVID-19-positive patients of a known ABO blood type, who attended outpatient department and inpatient department during March 26-May 20, 2021, in tertiary care hospital Udaipur (Raj.) Serum inflammatory markers were evaluated by Cobas 6000. Result(s): Out of the 713 patients who were tested positive, 15.56% was blood group Type A, 19.91% was blood group Type B, 13.65% was blood group Type AB, and 46.28% was blood group Type O. On statistical analysis, there were positive association between O+ blood type and peak inflammatory marker (interleukin-6 and D-Dimer). Patients with blood Type O who received a test were more likely to test positive and blood Type B+, A+, A+, AB+, O-, A-, B-, and AB- were less likely to test positive. Conclusion(s): The present study shows an evidence for interrelation between ABO blood groups and SARS-COVID-19. Reported infection prevalence is moderately increased among O+ blood type individuals. Determination of level of inflammatory markers might prove to be helpful to clinicians so as to keep track of severity of infection and evaluate the prognosis of SARS-COVID-19 with specific ABO blood groups. Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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I read “Letter to The Editor” with considerable interest and attention on my article “The Relationship between Blood Groups and COVID-19 Patients”.
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Background: Plasma collected from patients that have recovered from an infectious disease has been transfused over many decades for prophylaxis and treatment of various infectious diseases. Taking into consideration the expansion of COVID-19 pandemics, we started the COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) programme. Aims: The aim of our study is to show our experience with collecting the CCP and to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentration in different convalescent plasma donors' subgroups. Methods: This is a prospective study performed in the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of Republic of North Macedonia since 30 April 2020 till July 2021. Antibody testing was performed at the Institute for Immunobiology and Human Genetics in Skopje using CLIA method with Snibe Maglumi SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG (quantitative) with IgG cut-off larger than 5 AU/ml. All potential donor were tested for: negative RTPCR for SARSCoV-2 before donation, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, anti- HLA antibodies (where applicable), blood count, blood group, TTI and biochemistry. Preferred method for plasma collection was plasmapheresis which was performed with Terumo BCT Trima Accel and donation of whole blood, depending on the donor preference and venous access. All donors signed inform consent for donation and inclusion in the study. Results: There were 1476 potential CCP donors, but only 700(47.9%) donors fulfilled all the criteria and we obtained 793 units of CCP;639 (80.6%) units from whole blood donors and 154 (19.4%) CCP units from 61 plasmapheresis donors, 485 (69.3%) males and 215 (30.7%) females. Mean age of the donors was 40 years (range 18-63). Mean value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG concentration was 31.05 AU/ml, (range from 5.1 AU/ml to >100 AU/ml), mean value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG in men was 37.6 AU/ml and 28.9 AU/ml in women (p < 0.05). Distribution of CCP donors according to the ABO blood group was: 301 blood group A (43%) with median value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 27.15 AU/ml, 220 blood group O (31.4%) median value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 32.1 AU/ml, 116 blood group B (16.6%) median value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 35.9 AU/ml and 63 donors had blood group AB (9%) median value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 26.45 AU/ml. There were 69 donors that were previously hospitalized with mean value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 48.6 AU/ml, and 629 that were treated at home with mean value of SARS-CoV-2 SRBD IgG = 29.1 AU/ml (p < 0.05), of which 578 had symptoms with mean value of SARSCoV- 2 S-RBD IgG = 29.1 AU/ml and 51 were asymptomatic with mean value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 29.3 AU/ml. The CCP donors had the following distribution according to the age: 125 donors in the 18-29 age group with median value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 23.0 AU/ml, 200 donors in the 30-39 age group with mean value of SARSCoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 28.2 AU/ml, 217 donors in the 40-49 age group with mean value of SARS-CoV-2 SRBD IgG = 32.9 AU/ml and 156 donors in the 50-63 age group mean value of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG = 38.3 AU/ml (p < 0.05). Summary/Conclusions: The collection procedures are safe and effective and collected CCP units were with high concentration and quality. The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG in CCP obtained from previously hospitalized patients was significantly larger than in ones that were treated at home. The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG was higher in men, in advanced age group and in donors with blood group B. The further studies are needed to clarify the impact of different variables on antibodies concentration/ titre in donors.
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Background: Taking into consideration historic success of convalescent plasma in prophylaxis and treatment of various infectious diseases over the century and expansion of COVID-19 pandemics, we started the COVID-19 convalescent plasma program in our country. Aims: The aim of our study was to show the reasons for deferral of the COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donors. Methods: This is a prospective study organized in the Institute for Transfusion Medicine of Republic of North Macedonia since 30 April 2020 till July 2021. CCP donors eligible for donation were donors without a history of blood transfusion, female donors who have never been pregnant, or who have been tested and found negative for anti- HLA antibodies, age 18-65, in good health that fulfil all other criteria for regular blood donors. All potential donor were tested for: negative RT-PCR for SARSCoV-2 before donation, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, anti-HLA antibodies (where applicable), blood count, blood group, TTI and biochemistry. Antibody testing was performed at the Institute for Immunobiology and Human Genetics in Skopje using CLIA method with Snibe Maglumi SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG with IgG cut-off for CCP donation larger than 5 AU/ml (cut-off for regular positive result was larger than 1 AU/ml). All donors signed inform consent for donation and inclusion in the study. Results: There were 1462 potential CCP donors, of which 762(52.1%) did not fulfil criteria for CCP donation, 424(55.6%) women and 338 (44.4%) men. There were 454(59.6%) potential CCP donors that did not have enough anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG antibodies (Ab), of which 223(49.1%) had Ab concentration less than 1 AU/ml (29.3% of all deferred donors) and 231(50.9%) had Ab concentration between 1 and 5 AU/ml (30.3% of all deferred donors). In this subgroup of deferred donors, there were 227 women (50%) and 227 men (50%), with mean age 37.2 ± 10.1 (range 18-63). There were statistical significant correlation between the gender and the Ab concentration less than 1 AU/ml and from 1 to 5 AU/ml (Pearson Chi-square: 3.88667, df = 1, p = 0.048671). Multiple regression analysis showed that gender is independently connected with the Ab concentration, OR = 1.4495 (95%CI 1.0016-2.0976), i.e. male gender increases the chance for increased Ab concentration for one and a half times. According to the age group, the majority of deferred CCP donors, because of low Ab concentration, are in the age group from 30 till 39(39.6%), followed by age group from 40 till 49(23.8%), and least deferred donors were in 50 and above age group (13.2%). The most of these deferred donors were treated at home, 451(99.3%) and had symptoms 240(52.9%). Distribution according to blood group in CCP donors deferred due to low Ab concentration was: blood group A- 182(40.1%), blood group O-153(33.7%), blood group B-69(15.1%) and blood group AB-42(9.3%). In the whole investigated group, 65 (8.5%) potential donors were deferred because of low haemoglobin level (less than 12.5 g/dl for women and less than 13.5 g/dl for men), 26 (3.4%) were deferred because of positive TTI markers and 102 (13.4%) women of the total number of deferred donors were deferred because of presence of HLA antibodies (i.e. 24% of investigated women). Summary/Conclusions: There is large percentage of deferred CCP donors mostly because of low Ab concentration, presence of HLA antibodies and low haemoglobin level, but starting of COVID-19 convalescent plasma program was a big success for our institution and our country and helped a lot of patients.
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Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global health crisis. CT chest is considered as an important investigation for early diagnosis as well as assessment of severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Several articles reported that there is a correlation between ABO blood group system and susceptibility as well as prognosis of the disease. In our study we correlated the CT severity score (CT-SS) and the ABO blood group in patients with COVID-19 infection. This study involved 547 symptomatic patients with pathologically proven COVID-19 infection (positive PCR);non contrast CT chest was done for all cases and CT severity score (CT-SS) was calculated followed by its correlation with the patients’ ABO blood group. Aim of the work was to evaluate the relation between CT-SS and the ABO blood groups in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection. Results: The mean CT-SS in patients with blood group A patients (n = 153;28%) was 13.7 (moderate severity), while in patients with blood group O (n = 227;41.5%) the mean CT-SS was 6.7 (mild severity). In blood group B patients (n = 139;25.4%) the mean CT-SS was 9.1 (mild to moderate severity) and in blood group AB patients (n = 28;5.1%) the mean CT-SS was 9.7 (mild to moderate severity). Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with blood group A are more prone to aggressive CT findings (higher CT-SS) and consequently may be susceptible to increased risk of mortality compared to the patients with other blood groups;however, patients with blood group O are suggested to have the least CT-SS and appear to be relatively protected.