Circulating Vitamin D levels status and clinical prognostic indices in COVID-19 patients
Alberto Rícci, Alessandra Pagliuca, Michela D’Ascanio, Marta Innammorato, Claudia De Vitis, Rita Mancini, Simonetta Giovagnoli, Francesco Facchiano, Bruno Sposato, Paolo Anibaldi, Adriano Marcolongo, Chiara De Dominicis, Andrea Laghi, Emanuele Muscogiuri, Salvatore Sciacchitano
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several immune mechanisms activate in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Usually, coronavirus infection is characterized by dysregulated host immune responses, interleukine-6 increase, hyper-activation of cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes. Interestingly, Vitamin D deficiency has been often associated with altered immune responses and infections. In the present study, we evaluated Vitamin D plasma levels in patients affected with different lung involvement during COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Lymphocyte phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry. Thoracic CT scan involvement was obtained by an image analysis program. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels were deficient in (80%) of patients, insufficient in (6.5%) and normal in (13.5%). Patients with very low Vitamin D plasma levels had more elevated D-Dimer values, a more elevated B lymphocyte cell count, a reduction of CD8 + T lymphocytes with a low CD4/CD8 ratio, more compromised clinical findings (measured by LIPI and SOFA scores) and thoracic CT scan involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with compromised inflammatory responses and higher pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 affected patients. Vitamin D assessment, during COVID-19 infection, could be a useful analysis for possible therapeutic interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 'retrospectively registered'.