Serum VEGF Levels on Admission in COVID-19 Patients Correlate with SP-D and Neutrophils, Reflecting Disease Severity: A Prospective Study

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in significant global morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in COVID-19 patients and its association with disease severity and pulmonary injury.MethodsWe prospectively collected data from 71 hospitalized COVID-19 patients between June 2020 and January 2021. Patients were classified as either mild or severe based on their oxygen requirements during hospitalization. Serum VEGF levels were measured using an ELISA kit.ResultsIn comparison to mild cases, significantly elevated serum VEGF levels were observed in severe COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, VEGF levels exhibited a positive correlation with white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count. Notably, serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D), an indicator of alveolar epithelial cell damage, was significantly higher in patients with elevated VEGF levels.ConclusionThese results suggest that elevated serum VEGF levels could serve as a prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 as it is indicative of alveolar epithelial cell injury caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, we observed a correlation between VEGF and neutrophil activation, which plays a role in the immune response during endothelial cell injury, indicating a potential involvement of angiogenesis in disease progression. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of VEGF elevation in COVID-19.