Surfactant protein-A (SP-A)is a novel marker of lung disorders in patients discharged after COVID-19 pneumonia

ABSTRACT

The aim: was to estimate role of SP-A in patients (pts) discharged after COVID-19 pneumonia. Material(s) and Method(s) main group was 75 pts (36 (48,0%) men, age - 54,2 (49,3;57,1)) on 46,5 (42,4;53,1) days after the onset of COVID-19. Pts were divided into 3 subgroups 1 - 27 pts after moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, 2 - 30 pts after severe COVID-19 pneumonia, 3 - 18 pts after critical COVID-19 pneumonia. All pts before COVID-19 had no history of previous lung disease. Control group - 15 healthy persons. Measurements dyspnea by mMRC, SpO2, SP-A in serum. Result(s) After 1,5 months the onset of COVID-19 74 pts (98,7%) had dyspnea, but level of SpO2 Me 97,5 (96,3;98,8)% was normal. Level of SP-A didn't differ between subgr. 1 and control gr. (p>0,05). But level of SP-A was significantly higher in pts of subgr. 2 and subgr. 3 in comparison with control gr. and subgr. 1 (p<0,01) (Fig.1). At the same time, it was strong direct correlation between the level of SP-A and severity of dyspnea by mMRC (Fig.2). Conclusion(s) 1) the level of SP-A is an independent predictor of lung lesion in early post-COVID-19 period in pts after severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia;2) damage of the surfactant system of the lungs can be the reason of dyspnea in the early period after COVID-19;2) determination of SP-A is important element to customize the most appropriate therapeutic strategies for pts after severe and critical COVID-19.