ABSTRACT
Aims: The review explores the findings of previous studies to elucidate the association between levels of D-dimer and COVID-19 severity and prognosis. In addition, we assessed the efficiency of anticoagulant therapies in reducing COVID-19 severity and improving the prognosis of the patients. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed databases, Scopus, and Web of Science with the help of keywords "COVID-19," "D-Dimer," "Thrombosis," "Fibrin network," "Anticoagulant therapy," "Inflammation," and "disease severity." Based on all these articles and clinical experience, a scoping review was constructed and the full texts of the articles that were retrieved were accessed. Results: A D-dimer is a complex protein molecule that is formed during plasmin-mediated degradation of the fibrin network. Thus, it serves as a marker of thrombotic activity. On the other hand, in addition to severe respiratory distress and reduction in pulmonary gas exchange, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also triggers prothrombotic changes in the infected individuals. The levels of D-dimer have been postulated to be positively associated with the degree of disease severity among COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: It has been postulated that D-dimer could potentially be used as a biomarker to predict the prognosis and outcome of COVID-19 patients at the time of admission to hospitals and facilitate more personalized and efficient clinical management that could significantly reduce the mortality rate of such patients and allow more rapid recovery.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a Saudi Arabian population and its association with the body mass index (BMI) and serum 8-hydroxy deoxyguanine (8-OHdG) levels as biomarker for oxidative stress. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients that had experienced epigastric discomfort or dyspepsia for > 1 month and had undergone diagnostic upper endoscopy. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 were defined as obese. The presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies was confirmed using an H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of 8-OHdG were measured using a competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 186 (62.4%) patients were H. pylori-positive and 112 (37.6%) patients were H. pylori-negative. The mean ± SD age of the overall study cohort was 47.17 ± 9.27 years. The H. pylori-positive patients had significantly higher levels of H. pylori IgG antibodies than H. pylori-negative patients. H. pylori prevalence linearly correlated with BMI quantile. The 8-OHdG levels were strongly associated with the BMI of the patients in the H. pylori-positive group. CONCLUSION: Obese individuals exhibited higher H. pylori prevalence than individuals with a lean BMI (BMI < 25.00 kg/m2).
