Oxidative Stress Status and its correlation with Redox Status as Measured By An Electrochemical (PAOT®) Methodology: A Pilot Study in Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia Survivors

ABSTRACT

Background: In most serious COVID-19 forms which required prolonged stay in intensive care unit, pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, neurological and psychological sequelae have been reported after the infection. All these complications can be sustained by chronic inflammatory problems and/ or increased oxidative stress. Material and Methods: Biomarkers of the systemic oxidative stress status (OSS) including enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, total antioxidant capacity of plasma (PAOT®-Sore), trace elements, oxidative damage to lipids and inflammation markers, were investigated in 12 patients admitted to a revalidation center for post-19 COVID pneumonia. Results: From blood samples collected two months after hospital discharge and one month after admission to the revalidation center, vitamin C, thiol proteins, reduced glutathione, gamma-tocopherol and beta carotene were significantly decreased compared to reference values. By contrast, lipid peroxides and markers of inflammation (neutrophils, myeloperoxidase) were significantly higher than the norms. Lipid peroxides was strongly correlated with Cu (r = 0.95, P < 0.005) and Cu/Zn ratio (0.66, P = 0.020). Using an electrochemical method (PAOT®), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) evaluated in saliva and urine negatively correlated with copper and lipid peroxides. Similar findings were obtained for PAOT®-skin score. Conclusions: Systemic OSS was strongly altered in patients admitted in revalidation after C0VID-19 infection. This suggests the need for supplementing these patients with antioxidants.