The relationship between serum soluble ACE 2 protein level and the clinical course of COVID-19 disease

Abstract

Aims: The angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) molecule, which mediates the entry of the virus into the cell, plays a very important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease. However, its effect on prognosis has not been fully explained. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between soluble ACE 2 (sACE 2) levels in the blood and the course of the disease. Methods: sACE 2 levels at 0, 3 and 5 days were measured in patients with mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia who were hospitalized between March 15, 2020 and August 30, 2020. Results: 69 patients, 35 (51.5%) female and 34 (49.3%) male, with a mean age of 64.3±2.1 were included in the study. 42.0% of the patients had mild, 30.4% moderate, 27.5% severe pneumonia. Clinical follow-up of 7 patients resulted in death. There was no statistically significant difference between sACE 2 levels and gender, severity of pneumonia, initial hospitalization, presence of intubation and mortality. Conclusion: sACE 2 levels were not associated with disease severity and inflammatory markers. Studies in larger patient populations are needed to explain the relationship between sACE 2 activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection and to develop new treatment strategies.