Blood oxygenation state in COVID-19 patients: Unexplored role of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate

Background: COVID-19 reduces lung functionality causing a decrease of blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia) often related to a decreased cellular oxygenation (hypoxia). Besides lung injury, other factors are implicated in the regulation of oxygen availability such as pH, partial arterial carbon dioxide te...

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Main Authors: Maria Sofia Bertilacchi, Rebecca Piccarducci, Alessandro Celi, Lorenzo Germelli, Chiara Romei, Brian J Bartholmai, Greta Barbieri, Chiara Giacomelli, Claudia Martini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Biomedical Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S231941702400026X
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Summary:Background: COVID-19 reduces lung functionality causing a decrease of blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia) often related to a decreased cellular oxygenation (hypoxia). Besides lung injury, other factors are implicated in the regulation of oxygen availability such as pH, partial arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), temperature, and erythrocytic 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) levels, all factors affecting hemoglobin saturation curve. However, few data are currently available regarding the 2,3-BPG modulation in SARS-CoV-2 affected patients at the hospital admission. Material and methods: Sixty-eight COVID-19 patients were enrolled at hospital admission. The lung involvement was quantified using chest-Computer Tomography (CT) analysed with automatic software (CALIPER). Haemoglobin concentrations, glycemia, and routine analysis were evaluated in the whole blood, while partial arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), PaCO2, pH, and HCO3− were assessed by arterial blood gas analysis. 2,3-BPG levels were assessed by specific immunoenzymatic assays in RBCs. Results: A higher percentage of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and vascular pulmonary-related structure (VRS) volume on chest-CT quantified with CALIPER had been found in COVID-19 patients with a worse disease outcome (R = 0.4342; and R = 0.3641, respectively). Furthermore, patients with lower PaO2 showed an imbalanced acid-base equilibrium (pH, p = 0.0208; PaCO2, p = 0.0496) and a higher 2,3-BPG levels (p = 0.0221). The 2,3-BPG levels were also lower in patients with metabolic alkalosis (p = 0.0012 vs. no alkalosis; and p = 0.0383 vs. respiratory alkalosis). Conclusions: Overall, the data reveal a different pattern of activation of blood oxygenation compensatory mechanisms reflecting a different course of the COVID-19 disease specifically focusing on 2,3-BPG modulation.
ISSN:2319-4170