Objective Aminothiols (glutathione (GSH), cysteinylglycine (CG)) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the possible association of these indicators with the severity of COVID-19 has not yet been investigated. Methods The total content ( t ) and reduced forms ( r ) of aminothiols were determined in patients with COVID-19 ( n = 59) on admission. Lung injury was characterized by computed tomography (CT) findings in accordance with the CT0-4 classification. Results Low tGSH level was associated with the risk of severe COVID-19 (tGSH ≤ 1.5 μ M, mild vs. moderate/severe: risk ratio (RR) = 3.09, p = 0.007) and degree of lung damage (tGSH ≤ 1.8 μ M, CT < 2 vs. CT ≥ 2: RR = 2.14, p = 0.0094). The rGSH level showed a negative association with D-dimer levels ( ρ = −0.599, p = 0.014). Low rCG level was also associated with the risk of lung damage (rCG ≤ 1.3 μ M, CT < 2 vs. CT ≥ 2: RR = 2.28, p = 0.001). Levels of rCG ( ρ = −0.339, p = 0.012) and especially tCG ( ρ = −0.551, p = 0.004) were negatively associated with platelet count. In addition, a significant relationship was found between the advanced oxidation protein product level and tGSH in patients with moderate or severe but not in patients with mild COVID-19. Conclusion Thus, tGSH and rCG can be seen as potential markers for the risk of severe COVID-19. GSH appears to be an important factor to oxidative damage prevention as infection progresses. This suggests the potential clinical efficacy of correcting glutathione metabolism as an adjunct therapy for COVID-19.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, Coronavirus disease 2019, Pathogenesis, severe COVID-19, Infection, risk, Lung injury, metabolism, Computed tomography, Protein, severity of COVID-19, Patient, Platelet, Mild, oxidative damage, Admission, Platelet count, association, marker, D-dimer level, Clinical efficacy, Injury, risk ratio, lung damage, on admission, glutathione, GSH, D-dimer levels, glutathione metabolism, objective, Result, addition, investigated, form, reduced, characterized, appear, Level, patients with COVID-19, patients with moderate, therapy for COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 weight,