背景:这项纵向前瞻性研究旨在研究循环钙卫蛋白(cCLP)作为COVID-19感染后持续嗅觉功能障碍的生物标志物的潜力。
方法:纳入36例COVID-19后持续性食欲不振或食欲不振患者(HT0),并在嗅觉训练(HT1)三个月后重新评估。两个对照组包括18例COVID-19术后无嗅觉缺陷的受试者(CG1)和18例健康个体(CG2)。进行嗅裂的鼻刷和血液收集以评估循环钙卫蛋白水平。
结果:与对照组(CG1和CG2)相比,在低血症患者(HT0)的血清和鼻上清液中观察到更高的钙卫蛋白水平。嗅觉训练(HT1)嗅觉功能明显改善,同时血清和鼻腔样本中钙卫蛋白水平降低。循环钙卫蛋白具有作为COVID-19后持续嗅觉功能障碍的生物标志物的潜力。嗅觉训练后钙卫蛋白水平的降低意味着在监测和评估治疗反应中的作用。
结论:这些发现有助于有关COVID-19后嗅觉功能障碍的潜在生物标志物的文献不断增加,并强调了研究新型生物标志物对个性化患者管理的重要性。然而,钙卫蛋白检测在鼻部疾病中的应用及其与鼻部细胞学的相关性尚需进一步研究。
BACKGROUND: This longitudinal prospective study aims to investigate the potential of circulating calprotectin (cCLP) as a biomarker in persistent olfactory dysfunctions following COVID-19 infection.
METHODS: Thirty-six patients with persistent hyposmia or anosmia post COVID-19 were enrolled (HT0) and re-evaluated after three months of olfactory training (HT1). Two control groups included 18 subjects without olfactory defects post COVID-19 (CG1) and 18 healthy individuals (CG2). Nasal brushing of the olfactory cleft and blood collection were performed to assess circulating calprotectin levels.
RESULTS: Higher calprotectin levels were observed in serum and nasal supernatant of hyposmic patients (HT0) compared to control groups (CG1 and CG2). Post-olfactory training (HT1), olfactory function improved significantly, paralleled by decreased calprotectin levels in serum and nasal samples. Circulating calprotectin holds potential as a biomarker in persistent olfactory dysfunctions after COVID-19. The decrease in calprotectin levels post-olfactory training implies a role in monitoring and evaluating treatment responses.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to the growing literature on potential biomarkers in post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunctions and underscore the importance of investigating novel biomarkers for personalized patient management. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to validate the application of calprotectin assay in nasal diseases and its correlation with nasal cytology.