Czech Republic scientists explore biomarkers for COVID-19 severity

Medical News: Understanding suPAR and Other Biomarkers in COVID-19 Patients
COVID-19 continues to challenge healthcare systems worldwide, pushing scientists and clinicians to seek more effective ways to predict disease severity. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Military University Hospital Prague and Charles University in the Czech Republic sheds light on the role of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. This study analyzed suPAR levels along with commonly used inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients hospitalized during the Omicron wave.


Czech Republic scientists find that suPAR can be used as a biomarker for COVID-19 severity

What is suPAR?
SuPAR is a protein released during immune responses, and its levels in the blood can reflect the intensity of inflammation in the body. Researchers have found that suPAR is associated with several serious conditions, including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even kidney failure. Recently, suPAR has also been linked to severe outcomes in COVID-19, leading to investigations into its role as a possible predictor for severe respiratory failure.
 
This Medical News report explores the study that evaluated suPAR's potential to help doctors better understand the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, aiming to use biomarkers to predict outcomes more effectively.
 
The Study
In this study, 160 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalized between January and August 2022. These patients were grouped based on the severity of their illness: those with mild symptoms and those experiencing moderate to severe disease. The researchers analyzed various biomarkers, including suPAR, CRP, IL-6, and others, to determine if there was a clear connection between their levels and the severity of COVID-19.
 
Upon admission, suPAR plasma levels were measured using a specific diagnostic kit, and blood samples were taken to analyze other biomarkers like CRP and IL-6. Additionally, patient comorbidities were taken into account, such as chronic lung or heart diseases, which can influence biomarker levels. The primary goal was to see if higher suPAR levels were linked to more severe disease outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
 
Key Findings
One of the major takeaways from this study was that suPAR levels were elevated in all patients, regardless of whether they had mild or severe symptoms. On average, patients with mild COVID-19 had suPAR levels of 7.25 ng/mL, while those with more severe disease had levels of 7.55 ng/mL. Both numbers far exceed the normal suPAR range of 0–2 ng/mL, indicating that COVID-19 causes widespread inflammation in the body.
 
Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in suPAR levels between patients with mild and severe disease. This suggests that, although suPAR levels are consistently elevated in COVID-19 patients, they may not be a reliable predictor of how severe the disease will become. However, other biomarkers, such as CRP and IL-6, did show a strong correlation with disease severity. Patients with severe symptoms had notably higher CRP and IL-6 levels, suggesting that these markers could be more useful for predicting outcomes in COVID-19 patients.
 
Moreover, the study highlighted a correlation between suPAR levels and IL-6, PCT (procalcitonin), and creatinine levels, which are all markers of inflammation or infection. The fact that suPAR was positively linked to these biomarkers suggests it still plays a role in the overall inflammatory response during COVID-19, even if it doesn't directly predict disease severity.
 
Comparing suPAR with Other Biomarkers
While suPAR did not prove to be a definitive marker for disease severity, CRP stood out as a reliable predictor. CRP, which is commonly used to detect inflammation, was significantly higher in patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 than in those with milder forms. This confirms previous studies that showed CRP is a strong indicator of severe COVID-19. On the other hand, IL-6, another marker of inflammation, was also elevated in severe cases but did not consistently predict outcomes.
 
The study also looked at procalcitonin (PCT) levels, which can indicate bacterial superinfection, a common complication in patients with severe COVID-19. While elevated PCT levels prompted empirical antibiotic therapy in some patients, the study found no strong link between PCT levels and the severity of COVID-19 itself.
 
The Implications for COVID-19 Treatment
The study's findings offer important insights into how doctors might use biomarkers to better manage COVID-19 patients. While suPAR levels were elevated in all patients, the lack of a strong correlation between suPAR and disease severity limits its use as a predictive tool for COVID-19. However, the consistent relationship between CRP levels and disease severity suggests that this biomarker could help identify patients at risk for more severe outcomes.
 
Given the wide range of symptoms and disease courses in COVID-19 patients, having reliable biomarkers to guide treatment is crucial. This research supports the continued use of CRP and IL-6, as they remain effective indicators of inflammation and potential disease progression in COVID-19. The results also raise questions about the specific role of suPAR in different stages of COVID-19 and how it might interact with other biomarkers.
 
Conclusion
This study provides valuable information on the use of biomarkers like suPAR, CRP, and IL-6 in managing COVID-19 patients. While suPAR was not found to be a reliable predictor of disease severity, it remains an important marker of overall inflammation. CRP, on the other hand, continues to be a powerful tool for assessing disease progression and helping doctors make critical treatment decisions.
 
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, research like this will help guide future diagnostic and treatment strategies. Understanding how these biomarkers interact with the disease can offer new ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality, especially in vulnerable populations.
 
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Medicine.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/21/6340
 
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep logging on to Thailand Medical News.
 
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-diagnostics-researchers-uncover-new-protein-biomarker-supar-to-identify-covid-19-patients-at-risk-of-acute-kidney-injury-aki
 
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/latest-covid-19-news-protein-supar-identified-as-new-biomarker-for-acute-respiratory-failure-in-covid-19-patients