Soluble Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 as a Prognostic Biomarker for Disease Progression in Patients Infected with...

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Predicting SARS-CoV-2 disease severity is challenging.
• Soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (sACE2) is shed from membrane ACE2 (mACE2), a SARS-CoV-2 receptor.
• Biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage are known indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive value of sACE2 compared to established biomarkers.
• To assess sACE2's ability to predict hospitalization and disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed sACE2, CRP, GDF-15, IL-6, and sFlt-1 levels in 850 patients.
• Compared biomarker levels across different clinical outcomes (hospitalized vs. discharged SARS-CoV-2 patients, SARS-CoV-2 negative, and unexposed).
• Utilized univariate analyses and ROC curve analysis for sACE2.

Main Results:

• CRP, GDF-15, IL-6, and sFlt-1 were significantly higher in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients (p < 0.001).
• sACE2 levels were significantly lower in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients (p < 0.001).
• ROC analysis identified sACE2 cut-offs for predicting hospital admission with high predictive values.

Conclusions:

• sACE2 demonstrates potential as a biomarker for predicting SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization risk and disease severity.
• sACE2 may serve as a standalone biomarker or part of a panel for risk stratification.
• Further investigation into sACE2's role in SARS-CoV-2 patient management is warranted.