PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Xue, Mingshan
AU  - Zeng, Yifeng
AU  - Qu, Hui-Qi
AU  - Zhang, Teng
AU  - Li, Ning
AU  - Huang, Huimin
AU  - Zheng, Peiyan
AU  - Hu, Haisheng
AU  - Zhou, Luqian
AU  - Duan, Zhifeng
AU  - Zhang, Yong
AU  - Bao, Wei
AU  - Tian, Li-feng
AU  - Hakonarson, Hakon
AU  - Zhong, Nanshan
AU  - Zhang, Xiaohua Douglas
AU  - Sun, Baoqing
TI  - Heparin-binding protein levels correlate with aggravation and multiorgan damage in severe COVID-19
AID  - 10.1183/23120541.00741-2020
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - ERJ Open Research
PG  - 00741-2020
VI  - 7
IP  - 1
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/7/1/00741-2020.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/7/1/00741-2020.full
SO  - erjor2021 Jan 01; 7
AB  - Background Critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (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 18 critically ill COVID-19 patients who suffered from respiratory failure and sepsis, including 12 cases who experienced a rapidly deteriorating clinical condition and six 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.For the first time, this study observed that heparin-binding protein (HBP) was significantly increased in critically ill #COVID19 patients during disease aggravation, which highlights HBP as a disease mediator and a potential therapeutic target https://bit.ly/35dz88C