Evaluation of Biochemical Characteristics in a Retrospective Cohort of COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on global health and healthcare systems. This retrospective study aimed to assess the association between biochemical parameters and outcomes in COVID-19 patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: After establishing the inclusion criteria and obtaining ethical approval, data from 156 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected from electronic medical records from a general hospital in Samtah, Jazan, from April 2020 to October 2021. The collected data included patient demographics and liver, kidney, heart, and electrolyte function marker levels. Descriptive, inferential, and principal component analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Survival rates varied according to age and body mass index (BMI). Statistical analysis demonstrated that the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), sodium (Na), potassium (K), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), creatine kinase (CK), CK myocardial band (MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the reference values, as assessed using the one-sample t-test. Principal component analysis (PCA) also revealed an underlying pattern in the variation of these biochemical markers. These findings suggest that certain biochemical parameters may serve as useful indicators for monitoring the condition of COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study in Jazan, Saudi Arabia highlights the association between biochemical parameters and outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Elevated levels of markers of liver, kidney, heart, and electrolyte function suggest organ damage and dysregulation. The pattern identified through PCA provides insights into disease severity. Monitoring these parameters may serve as valuable indicators for assessing COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to validate these findings, explore their potential for personalized treatment strategies, and improve patient outcomes during the ongoing pandemic.

The Prevalence of Lewis, Lutheran, and P1 Antigens and Phenotypes in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Inherited hemoglobinopathies are common in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, and some patients may frequently require a blood transfusion. Therefore, the provision of compatible units using extended phenotypes is necessary to preclude the risk of alloimmunization. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies of the Lewis (LE), Lutheran (LU), and P1 antigens, as well as determine the prevalence of LE and LU phenotypes. METHODS: This study collected 150 blood samples from Saudi Arabian anonymous volunteering blood donors at Prince Muhammed bin Nasser Hospital in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Serotyping was performed using antigen profile-II based on gel card technology to determine LE, LU, and P1 antigens. RESULTS: The prevalence of antigens was as follows: Lea (n = 37, 24.6%), Leb (n = 87, 58%), Lua (n = 6, 4%), Lub (n = 150, 100%), and P1 (n = 120, 80%). Regarding the LE phenotypes, Le (a+b-) was 24.7%, Le (a-b+) was 58%, and Le (a-b-) was 17.3%. The frequencies of only observed LU phenotypes Lu (a-b+) and Lu (a+b+) were 96% and 4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study reports LE, LU, and P1 antigen prevalence. Moreover, LE and LU phenotype frequencies were investigated. This study may help establish a national database of blood group antigens in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it may provide better transfusion practice to avoid the alloimmunization risk.

Investigation of Dombrock Blood Group Alleles and Genotypes among Saudi Blood Donors in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

The Dombrock (DO) blood group system has two primary antigens, Doa and Dob, which can cause delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The paucity of specific monospecific antibodies can hamper the typing based on these antigens. Thus, blood group genotyping (BGG) was investigated as a possible solution. Sequence-specific primers were designed to target a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs11276) on the ART4 gene encoding the DO*A and DO*B alleles. Blood samples (n = 150) from randomly selected volunteer donors were used. DNA was extracted and resulting PCR products were purified and sequenced. The allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B were (n = 122, 40.67%) and (n = 178, 59.33%), respectively. The distributions of DO genotypes were as follows: DO*A/DO*A (n = 20), 13.33%; DO*B/DO*B (n = 48), 32.00%; and DO*A/DO*B (n = 82), 54.67%. In conclusion, this study reports on the allelic frequencies of DO*A and DO*B of the DO blood group system in Jazan Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, this study reports on the prevalence of each genotype, of which DO*A/DO*B was the most abundant. This study contributes significantly to build the current blood donor database in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it may assist in providing safe blood to polytransfused patients and reduce the risk of the red cell alloimmunization.

The frequencies of Kidd blood group antigens and phenotypes among Saudi blood donors in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The patients who require transfusion are prevalent in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it is essential to know the frequency of blood group antigens in such a population. The Kidd blood group system (JK) has two antithetical antigens, Jka and Jkb. Antibodies to these antigens may result in delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The present study investigated the frequencies of Jka and Jkb and the phenotypes among Saudi blood donors living in the Jazan Province. METHODS: One hundred and forty-three samples from anonymous Saudi volunteer blood donors in the Jazan Province were serotype to detect Jka and Jkb using gel card technology and determine the phenotypes of the JK blood group system. RESULTS: The prevalence of Jka and Jkb antigens were 90.64% (n = 126) and 69.40% (n = 93), respectively. The JK phenotypes were 34.96% Jk(a + b - ) (n = 51), 12.59% Jk(a - b + ) (n = 18), 52.45% Jk(a + b + ) (n = 75), and 0% Jk(a - b - ). The frequencies of the JK phenotypes in the Jazan population were significantly different from those in the Asian population (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We reported the frequencies of the Jka and Jkb antigens and the distribution of the JK phenotypes in a group of Saudi blood donors in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The phenotype Jk(a + b + ) was the most common among the study population. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the significance of identifying the frequency of JK antigens and phenotypes in the provinces of Saudi Arabia.

Frequencies of MNS Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: Knowledge of the prevalence of blood group antigens in a given population is important for the prevention of hemolytic reactions. The MNS blood group system (002) has four polymorphic antigens-M, N, S, and s. Anti-S and anti-s antibodies may result in immediate and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn may occur. The present study investigated the frequencies of the main antigens and phenotypes of the MNS blood group system. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We randomly obtained 149 samples from anonymous Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Serotyping was conducted using a gel card to investigate (M, N, S, and s) antigens and phenotypes. RESULTS: The frequencies of MNS antigens were as follows: M = 89.26%, N = 51.67%, S = 61.07%, and s = 82.55%. Regarding the MNS phenotypes, nine phenotypes were observed in the study population. The most common phenotype was M+N-S+s+ (n = 36, 24.16%), in contrast to the least common phenotype M+N-S-s- (n = 1, 0.67%). The prevalence of the MNS phenotypes in the current study population was highly and significantly different from that in Europeans (P = 0.044) and African Americans (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: In summary, this study reports the frequencies of the MNS antigens and phenotypes in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. The most common phenotype was M+N-S+s+, whereas the least observed phenotype was M+N-S-s-. The outcomes of this study may assist the blood banks in Jazan Province to establish an extended phenotyping protocol including the MNS antigens, in particular S and s antigens, to preclude any alloimmunization events.

Prevalence of Duffy Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes among Saudi Blood Donors in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Knowing the prevalence of blood group antigens in a given population is important to prevent hemolytic reactions. The Duffy blood group system (FY) has two main antigens, Fya and Fyb. Antibodies binding these antigens can cause immediate/delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions as well as hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. In this study, frequencies of Fya and Fyb antigen expression and FY phenotypes were determined in a cohort of Saudi blood donors. METHODS: For this study, 143 samples were collected from randomly selected volunteer Saudi blood donors living in Jazan Province. Serological analysis, using gel card technology, was performed to detect Fya and Fyb antigens among the samples. RESULTS: The frequencies of Fya and Fyb antigens were 12.58% and 11.18%, respectively. The numbers and frequencies of FY phenotypes were as follows: Fy(a+b-), 15 (10.48%); Fy(a-b+), 13 (9.10%); Fy(a+b+), 3 (2.10%), and Fy(a-b-), 112 (78.32%). The frequencies of the FY phenotypes were highly and significantly different in Jazan Saudis compared to other ethnicities (< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the frequencies of the Fya and Fyb antigens and phenotypes of the FY blood group system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Jazan Province. The null phenotype Fy(a-b-) was the most prevalent among this population. This study highlights the importance of investigating FY alleles in different provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.