RNA-expression of adrenomedullin is increased in patients with severe COVID-19

Abstract

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a peptide hormone with vasodilatory effects and involved in the regulation of the endothelial barrier function.Previous research found increased ADM plasma levels in patients with sepsis and ADM levels correlated with disease severity and mortality in sepsis [1].Although severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shares some clinical features of sepsis (e.g., endothelial barrier dysfunction [2]), it is not known whether pathophysiological pathways of COVID-19 resemble those of sepsis [2, 3].To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate ADM in context of .We present here data regarding ADM in patients with COVID-19.Starting from March 2020, we included 45 adult patients presenting with signs of respiratory infection (cough and/or fever) to the Emergency Department in this ongoing study.The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Regensburg.Each individual provided written informed consent prior to inclusion.SARS-CoV-2 infection status was evaluated by PCR analysis mainly using throat rinse water (or less frequently nasopharyngeal swabs).Patients were classified as COVID-19 positive (PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 and signs of respiratory infection) or control (other viral or bacterial respiratory infection).Whole blood was drawn by venipuncture and lysed in Trifast (Ambion) buffer solution.Further, RNA expression analysis of ADM in whole blood was performed using qPCR and normalized to GAPDH as housekeeper

Topics & Concepts