Abstract Number: PB0599
Meeting: ISTH 2022 Congress
Theme: COVID and Coagulation » COVID and Coagulation, Basic Science
Background: Heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is an intracellular enzyme that is part of a broad anti-inflammatory and antioxidative pathway, in which it metabolizes heme delivered to cells by hemopexin. Although initial suggestions of a direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on hemoglobin or heme have already been refuted, HO-1 activation is recognized as part of the host response and as a potential therapeutic target in several diseases involving thrombosis and inflammation.
Aims: To evaluate circulating levels of hemopexin, heme and HO-1 in COVID-19, and their association with clinical and laboratory markers of disease severity.
Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted due to hypoxemia were enrolled, along with 30 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. HO-1 and hemopexin were measured by ELISA, and heme was measured by a colorimetric method. Samples were obtained on admission. Coagulation and inflammatory biomarkers were measured using commercional kits.
Results: HO-1 levels were higher in patients compared to healthy volunteers, and a trend towards higher hemopexin levels was also observed. In contrast heme levels were similar in patients and controls. A significant decrease in HO-1 levels was observed at the 4th day of hospital stay, and the magnitude of this decrease (HO-1) was correlated with the number of days in intensive care. Moreover, admission HO-1 levels were correlated with several biomarkers of hemostasis and fibrinolysis activation.
Conclusion(s): Upregulation of HO-1 is observed in COVID-19. HO-1 levels on admission were associated with markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation. Persistance of high HO-1 levels during admssion was associated with longer ICU stay.
Image
Figure 1. Levels of -a- HO-1, -b- hemopexin, -c- heme and -d- hemoglobin in COVID-19 patients and healthy volunteers; Time-course of -e- HO-1 -f- hemopexin in the early phases of COVID-19.
Table
Table 1. Association of HO-1 levels on admission and markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation in COVID-19
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Lima F, Peachazepi de Moraes C, Silva Barbosa M, Bombassaro B, Palma A, Mansur E, Velloso L, de Paula E. Association of heme/hemopexin/heme-oxygenase 1 pathway with clinical and laboratory markers of severity in Covid-19 [abstract]. https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/association-of-heme-hemopexin-heme-oxygenase-1-pathway-with-clinical-and-laboratory-markers-of-severity-in-covid-19/. Accessed September 21, 2023.« Back to ISTH 2022 Congress
ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/association-of-heme-hemopexin-heme-oxygenase-1-pathway-with-clinical-and-laboratory-markers-of-severity-in-covid-19/