Clinical Investigation of Leukocyte DNA Damage in COVID-19 Patients

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Immunology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global health crisis with complex pathophysiological mechanisms.
• Understanding cellular and molecular changes associated with COVID-19 is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
• Leukocyte DNA integrity may be affected during viral infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate leukocyte DNA damage in patients with COVID-19.
• To compare DNA damage markers between COVID-19 patients and a control group.
• To investigate the correlation between hematological parameters, DNA damage, and COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cross-sectional study involving 50 COVID-19 patients and 42 controls.
• Leukocyte DNA damage assessed using the comet assay, measuring tail and olive moments.
• Analysis of various hematological parameters including white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Main Results:

• COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly higher tail and olive moments, indicating increased DNA damage.
• Significant negative correlations were observed between COVID-19 and red blood cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes.
• Positive correlations were found between COVID-19 and hemoglobin, neutrophils, tail moment, and olive moment. The NLR was associated with disease presence and progression.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 infection causes statistically significant DNA damage in leukocytes.
• Hematological parameters like hemoglobin and neutrophil counts are elevated in COVID-19 patients.
• The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio is a relevant marker for COVID-19 presence and progression, alongside observed DNA damage.