Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38867241›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2024

Endothelial dysfunction and persistent inflammation in severe post-COVID-19 patients: implications for gas exchange.

Enrique Alfaro, Elena Díaz-García, Sara García-Tovar, Raúl Galera, Raquel Casitas, María Torres-Vargas, Cristina López-Fernández, José M Añón, Francisco García-Río, Carolina Cubillos-Zapata

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Enrique AlfaroRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
Elena Díaz-GarcíaRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
Sara García-TovarRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
Raúl GaleraRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
Raquel CasitasRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
María Torres-VargasRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
Cristina López-FernándezRespiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain.
José M AñónDepartment of Intensive Medicine, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Francisco García-Río *Respiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain. fgr01m@gmail.com.
Carolina Cubillos-Zapata *Respiratory Diseases Group, Respiratory Service, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Paseo de La Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain. cubilloszapata@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnderstanding the enduring respiratory consequences of severe COVID-19 is crucial for comprehensive patient care. This study aims to evaluate the impact of post-COVID conditions on respiratory sequelae of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

methodsWe examined 88 survivors of COVID-19-associated severe ARDS six months post-intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Assessments included clinical and functional evaluation as well as plasma biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and viral response. Additionally, an in vitro model using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) explored the direct impact of post-COVID plasma on endothelial function.

resultsPost-COVID patients with impaired gas exchange demonstrated persistent endothelial inflammation marked by elevated ICAM-1, IL-8, CCL-2, and ET-1 plasma levels. Concurrently, systemic inflammation, evidenced by NLRP3 overexpression and elevated levels of IL-6, sCD40-L, and C-reactive protein, was associated with endothelial dysfunction biomarkers and increased in post-COVID patients with impaired gas exchange. T-cell activation, reflected in CD69 expression, and persistently elevated levels of interferon-β (IFN-β) further contributed to sustained inflammation. The in vitro model confirmed that patient plasma, with altered levels of sCD40-L and IFN-β proteins, has the capacity to alter endothelial function.

conclusionsSix months post-ICU discharge, survivors of COVID-19-associated ARDS exhibited sustained elevation in endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, correlating with the severity of impaired gas exchange. NLRP3 inflammasome activity and persistent T-cell activation indicate on going inflammation contributing to persistent endothelial dysfunction, potentially intensified by sustained viral immune response.

Indexed as

COVID-19InflammationAdultAgedBiomarkersEndothelium, VascularFemaleHumansHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsMaleMiddle AgedNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinPulmonary Gas ExchangeRespiratory Distress SyndromeSARS-CoV-2BiomarkersNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinAcute respiratory distress syndromeEndothelial dysfunctionICAM-1InflammationPost-COVID-19 syndrome

Identifiers

PMID38867241
PMCPMC11170912

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.