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IL-6 and IL-17 as potential links between pre-existing hypertension and long-term COVID sequelae in patients

Natalia Stepanova1, Victoria Driianska2, Andriy Rysyev3

  • 1Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, State Institution "Institute of Nephrology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences", Kyiv, Ukraine. nmstep88@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports
|February 29, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Uncontrolled blood pressure in hemodialysis patients is linked to higher rates of long COVID symptoms. Elevated interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-17 may play a role in these persistent post-COVID conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Long COVID presents persistent symptoms post-infection, complicating care for patients with chronic conditions like hypertension.
  • Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) with pre-existing hypertension are a vulnerable group for developing long-term COVID sequelae.
  • Interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-17 are investigated as potential mediators linking uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) to long COVID.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pre-infection blood pressure control and long COVID sequelae in hemodialysis patients.
  • To examine the role of serum IL-6 and IL-17 levels in patients with and without long COVID sequelae.
  • To assess the impact of time post-COVID-19 infection on IL-6 and IL-17 levels.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 80 hemodialysis patients.
  • Serum IL-6 and IL-17 levels were measured.
  • Pre-infection blood pressure control (controlled vs. uncontrolled) and presence of long COVID sequelae were assessed at 5 and 10 months post-infection.

Main Results:

  • Long COVID sequelae prevalence was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled BP compared to those with controlled BP.
  • Serum IL-6 and IL-17 concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with uncontrolled BP.
  • Patients with long COVID sequelae exhibited higher IL-6 and IL-17 levels than recovered patients, with levels decreasing over time.

Conclusions:

  • Uncontrolled blood pressure may increase the risk of long COVID sequelae in hemodialysis patients.
  • Elevated IL-6 and IL-17 levels are associated with uncontrolled BP and long COVID in this cohort.
  • Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore therapeutic implications.

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