Circulating Vitamin D levels status and clinical prognostic indices in COVID-19 patients

• Research
• Open Access
• 
  

• Alberto Ricci, 
• Alessandra Pagliuca, 
• Michela D’Ascanio, 
• Marta Innammorato, 
• Claudia De Vitis, 
• Rita Mancini, 
• Simonetta Giovagnoli, 
• Francesco Facchiano, 
• Bruno Sposato, 
• Paolo Anibaldi, 
• Adriano Marcolongo, 
• Chiara De Dominicis, 
• Andrea Laghi, 
• Emanuele Muscogiuri & 
• Salvatore Sciacchitano 

Respiratory Research volume 22, Article number: 76 (2021) 

• details

Abstract

Background

Several immune mechanisms activate in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Usually, coronavirus infection is characterized by dysregulated host immune responses, interleukine-6 increase, hyper-activation of cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes. Interestingly, Vitamin D deficiency has been often associated with altered immune responses and infections. In the present study, we evaluated Vitamin D plasma levels in patients affected with different lung involvement during COVID-19 infection.

Methods

Lymphocyte phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry. Thoracic CT scan involvement was obtained by an image analysis program.

Results

Vitamin D levels were deficient in (80%) of patients, insufficient in (6.5%) and normal in (13.5%). Patients with very low Vitamin D plasma levels had more elevated D-Dimer values, a more elevated B lymphocyte cell count, a reduction of CD8 + T lymphocytes with a low CD4/CD8 ratio, more compromised clinical findings (measured by LIPI and SOFA scores) and thoracic CT scan involvement.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with compromised inflammatory responses and higher pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 affected patients. Vitamin D assessment, during COVID-19 infection, could be a useful analysis for possible therapeutic interventions.

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