Abstract
The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of asymptomatic infection and the occurrence of symptomatic COVID-19 on specific biochemical, renal, and immune parameters—renalase, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) cystatin C (CysC), and creatinine—and their weekly fluctuations during a one-month observation period in COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital. The study involved 86 individuals: 30 patients with diagnosed COVID-19, 28 people with asymptomatic infection confirmed with IgG antibodies—the IG(+) group—and 28 individuals without any (IgG, IgE) anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies—the IG(−) group. In the COVID-19 group, blood was drawn four times: (1) on day 0/1 after admission to hospital (C1 group), (2) 7 days later (C7 group), (3) 14 days later (C14 group), and (4) 28 days later (C28 group). In the IG(−) and IG(+) groups, blood was drawn once. There were no significant differences in creatinine, Cys C, and uric acid between any of the analyzed groups. NGAL levels were significantly higher in IG(+) and at all time-points in the COVID-19 groups than in controls. A similar observation was made for renalase at the C7, C14, and C28 time-points. Plasma renalase, NGAL, and CysC are unrelated to kidney function in non-critically ill COVID-19 patients and those with asymptomatic infection. Renalase and NGAL are most likely related to the activation of the immune system rather than kidney function. Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a rise in plasma NGAL levels similar to those observed in symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Therefore, more attention should be paid to tracking and monitoring the health of these people.
Highlights
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resultingCOVID-19 are currently one of the most critical epidemiological problems
The emergence of the virus and COVID-19 led to changes in the established methods of diagnosis and treatment of many diseases as its effects are related to multi-organ changes
The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of asymptomatic infection and occurrence of symptomatic COVID19 on specific biochemical, renal, and immune parameters—renalase, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C, and creatinine—and their weekly fluctuations during a one-month observation period in COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital
Summary
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resultingCOVID-19 are currently one of the most critical epidemiological problems. Some recent studies have shown that renal function in COVID-19 patients deteriorates, and AKI is the one of the main observed renal complications, immediately after the electrolyte disturbance [5] This deterioration might be a result of direct action on kidney cells and interaction with the ACE2 receptor, widely expressed in proximal epithelial cells, vascular endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and podocytes, or indirect as a consequence of acute or chronic inflammation, immune response, and inflammatory cells’ infiltration during infection [6]. Research in this area is still developing, and their results indicate many, often divergent, observations, starting with no significant influence of COVID-19 on renal function and ending with the assumption that new onset of kidney disease may occur [7] These are primarily based on the basic established methods of determining and describing kidney function. They should be expanded over time with new factors and potential biomarkers that aspire to be markers or predictors of damage to these organs
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