Correlation of circulating endothelial markers in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit  with laboratory data

• Published in: European journal of inflammation 2023-10, Vol.21
• Main Authors: Hakami, Waleed, Dobie, Gasim, Mobarki, Abdullah A, Madkhali, Aymen M, Akhter, Mohmmad S., Hakami, Abdulrahim R, Nahari, Mohammed H, Matari, Yahya H, Essawi, Khaled, Hakamy, Ali, Algahtani, Mohammad, Jackson, Denise E, Hamali, Hassan A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Biomarkers; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Hematology; Intensive care; Mortality; Pathogenesis
• ISSN: 1721-727X; 2058-7392
• DOI: 10.1177/1721727X231210425

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still a global concern with high morbidity and mortality rates. The role of endothelial cells in the progress of COVID-19 is well established. Therefore, the current study aimed to measure the endothelial markers and their correlation with the hematological parameters in intensive care unit-admitted COVID-19 patients. This study involved 111 adult participants, including 55 ICU-admitted patients with COVID-19 and 56 healthy controls. Levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in the plasma of the study participants were measured and correlated with hematological parameters. The study demonstrates that COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU have higher levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 compared to healthy controls (p < .05). These elevated levels can serve as reliable indicators of endothelial dysfunction and early markers for the detection and prediction of endothelial cell involvement in COVID-19 complications. The findings of this study suggest that increased levels of E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in patients with COVID-19 are indicative of the participation of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 complications. Consequently, these endothelial markers are proposed as potential early indicators for predicting the severity of COVID-19.