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Introduction / objectives: The cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are evidences of involvement of immune system in pathogenesis of this disease. We investigated the presence of various vasculitis-associated auto-antibodies and complement levels in a series of patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to our hospital.Methods: Forty patients with severe or critical type of COVID 19 were evaluated for symptoms, signs and laboratory tests of vasculitis syndromes including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti dsDNA, c and p anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (c ANCA and p ANCA) and complement levels. Descriptive statistics methods were used to describe the clinical / laboratory findings.Results: Forty patients with severe to critical illness were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 48.5 ± 9.8 years. All patients had pulmonary involvement in lung CT scan. Lymphopenia in 19 (47.5%), raised creatinine in 8(20%) and hyperbilirubinemia in 19(47.5%) of patients were seen. Vasculitis laboratory test results included: RF in 2 patients, ANA in 3 patients and ANCA in one patient. 17(42.5%) of patients had hypocomplementemia in one or more complement tests. Of the four patients who were expired, three had a decrease in complement.Conclusion: In 17 of patients (42.5%) we detected low complement levels. A decrease in complement levels may predict a critical state of the disease. Therefore, measuring its levels may be helpful in making earlier decisions to initiate disease-suppressing treatments, including corticosteroids and IVIG. |
