TY - JOUR T1 - Heparin-binding protein levels correlated with aggravation and multi-organ damage in severe COVID-19 JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00741-2020 SP - 00741-2020 AU - Mingshan Xue AU - Yifeng Zeng AU - Hui-Qi Qu AU - Teng Zhang AU - Ning Li AU - Huimin Huang AU - Peiyan Zheng AU - Haisheng Hu AU - Luqian Zhou AU - Zhifeng Duan AU - Yong Zhang AU - Wei Bao AU - Li-feng Tian AU - Hakon Hakonarson AU - Nanshan Zhong AU - Xiaohua Douglas Zhang AU - Baoqing Sun Y1 - 2020/01/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2020/11/12/23120541.00741-2020.abstract N2 - Background Critically ill COVID-19 patients may suffer persistent systemic inflammation and multiple organ failure, leading to a poor prognosis.Research Question To examine the relevance of the novel inflammatory factor heparin-binding protein (HBP) in critically ill COVID-19 patients, and evaluate the correlation of the biomarker with disease progression.Study Design and Methods Eighteen critically ill COVID-19 patients who suffered from respiratory failure and sepsis, including 12 cases who experienced a rapidly deteriorating clinical condition and 6 cases without deterioration, were investigated. They were compared with 15 age- and sex- matched COVID-19 negative patients with respiratory failure. Clinical data were collected and HBP levels were investigated.Results HBP was significantly increased in critically ill COVID-19 patients following disease aggravation and tracked with disease progression. HBP elevation preceded the clinical manifestations for up to 5 days and was closely correlated with patients’ pulmonary ventilation and perfusion status.Interpretation HBP levels are associated with COVID-19 disease progression in critically ill patients. As a potential mediator of disease aggravation and multiple organ injuries that are triggered by continuing inflammation and oxygen deficits, HBP warrants further study as a disease biomarker and potential therapeutic target.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Xue has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zeng has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Qu has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Huang has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zheng has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Hu has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zhou has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Duan has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Bao has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Tian has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Hakonarson has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zhong has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Sun has nothing to disclose. ER -