Blood test can predict severity of Covid-19: Study - New York News
by Maria Thomas
Updated Jul 01, 2020
The discovery could lead to new treatments to prevent deadly "cytokine storms" seen in severe cases of Covid-19. It also may help explain why diabetes contributes to worse outcomes in patients with the coronavirus.
The researchers from the University of Virginias (UVA) found that the levels of a particular cytokine in the blood upon diagnosis could be used to predict later outcomes.
Cytokines - proteins produced by immune cells - are responsible for severe overreactions by the immune system, known as cytokine storms, associated with Covid-19 and other serious illnesses.
"The immune response that we discovered to predict severe shortness of breath in Covid-19 is known in other pulmonary diseases to cause damage," said study researcher Bill Petri from the UVA.
"So this could lead to a novel way to prevent respiratory failure in individuals infected with the new coronavirus, by inhibiting this immune cytokine. We plan to test this in a model of Covid-19 prior to considering a clinical trial," Petri added.
For the findings, the research team identified 57 Covid-19 patients treated at UVA who ultimately required a ventilator.
They then tested blood samples taken from the patients within 48 hours of diagnosis or hospital admission.
The research team compared the results with those from patients who did not wind up needing a ventilator.
Cytokine storms, in which the immune system spirals out of control, are typically associated with an established group of cytokines.
But the best predictor of Covid-19 outcomes was an "underappreciated" cytokine more associated with allergies, the researchers reported.
High levels of that cytokine, IL-13, were associated with worsened Covid-19 outcomes regardless of patients' gender, age or other health problems.
The researchers also identified two more cytokines associated with severe outcomes, though the duo had less ability to predict the need for a ventilator.
In addition, the researchers found that levels of two other cytokines were significantly higher in patients with elevated blood sugar.
This "pro-inflammatory response," they said, may help explain why diabetes is associated with worse Covid-19 outcomes. In short, the body is primed to respond too strongly to the infection.
The researchers said the discovery could become part of a scoring system to let doctors flag at-risk COVID-19 patients for closer monitoring and personalized interventions.
The finding also identifies cytokines doctors could target as a new treatment approach.
July 01, 2020 Other New York
- US welcomes India's 'clean app' policy banning Chinese apps
- California sues Cisco alleging caste discrimination against Dalit
- Exercise increases benefits of breast milk for babies: Study
- Coronavirus may infect heart cells of Covid-19 patients: Study
- US secures almost entire world stock of Covid-19 drug remdesivir
- Judge blocks tell-all memoir by Trump's niece
- Depression more prevalent during menopause transition: Study
- Light drinking may protect brain function in older people
- How COVID-19 virus can infect human brain cells
- Maskless: The story of America's COVID-19 apocalypse
- 3rd Indian held in a month in marijuana smuggling from Canada
- US stocks rise as tech shares lead
Related Articles
- Optical Illusion Brain Test: If you have Sharp Eyes Find the Number 442 in 20 Secs
- London-based firm Nothing to release its Phone (2)
- Covid will continue to cause mini-waves, not become seasonal yet: Scientists
- Hackers offering crypto accounts for as low as $30 on darknet
- Reddit's new feature to allow users to share its content on other platforms
- Surgical masks can help kids fight respiratory infections: Study
- LinkedIn's new AI feature to write messages to hiring team
- Microsoft introduces Xbox Game Pass' new Friend Referral programme
- Disbursed over Rs 31 cr in claims to delivery partners in FY22-23: Swiggy
- India emerging as favourable destination for clinical trials: Report