VEGF Polymorphisms ( VEGF-936 C/T , VEGF-634 G/C and VEGF-2578 C/A ) and Cardiovascular Implications in Long COVID Patients

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-08, Vol.25 (16), p.8667
• Main Authors: Cozma, Angela, Sitar-Tăuț, Adela Viviana, Orășan, Olga Hilda, Briciu, Violeta, Leucuța, Daniel, Sporiș, Nicolae-Dan, Lazăr, Andrada-Luciana, Mălinescu, Toma-Vlad, Ganea, Andreea-Maria, Sporiș, Bianca Mihaela, Vlad, Călin Vasile, Lupșe, Mihaela, Țâru, Mădălina-Gabriela, Procopciuc, Lucia Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Blood pressure; cardiovascular; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - genetics; COVID-19 - virology; Disease; Echocardiography; ejection fraction; Female; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Hypertension; Long COVID; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate analysis; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; pulse wave analysis; Regression analysis; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Thrombosis; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; VEGF polymorphism
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168667

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the virus's long-term non-pulmonary consequences. This study examined the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of VEGF and cardiac dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients recovering from COVID-19. This study included 67 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19. , and statuses were determined. Conventional echocardiography and arterial parameters assessments were performed at inclusion and at six months after the first assessment. For , dominant and over-dominant models showed a significant increase in ejection fraction at six months after COVID ( = 0.044 and 0.048) and was also a predictive independent factor for the augmentation index (β = 3.07; = 0.024). The dominant model showed a rise in RV-RA gradient (3.702 mmHg) ( = 0.028 95% CI: 0.040-7.363), with the over-dominant model indicating a greater difference (4.254 mmHg) ( = 0.025 95% CI: 0.624-7.884). The findings for were not statistically significant, except for a difference in TAPSE during initial evaluation, using the codominant model. For , a difference in ventricular filling pressure (E/E'ratio) was best described under the recessive model. Our research suggests that the genotype may impact the baseline level and subsequent changes in cardiac function and subclinical atherosclerosis. These findings offer valuable insights into the complex correlation between genetic polymorphisms and cardiovascular disfunction in long COVID patients.