Circulating Naturally-Occurring Anticoagulants before Treatment and after Recovery from SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Ghana

Anaemia Antithrombin-III COVID-19 Protein C Protein S Thrombomodulin.

Authors

  • Charles Nkansah
    cnkansah86@yahoo.com
    1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,, Nigeria http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6986-9976
  • Lawrence D. Agyemang 3) Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 4) Department of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Service Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,, Ghana
  • Felix Osei-Boakye Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani,, Ghana
  • Samuel K. Appiah 1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,, Nigeria
  • Kofi Mensah 1) Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. 2) Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,, Nigeria
  • Gabriel Abbam Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Simon B. Bani Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Samira Daud Department of Haematology, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Hisham A. Osumanu Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Charles A. Derigubah Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Science and Arts, Bolgatanga Technical University, Bolgatanga,, Ghana
  • Dorcas Serwaa Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne,, Australia
  • Francis A. Apodola Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Nalerigu,, Ghana
  • Ezekiel B. Ackah Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,, Ghana
  • Michael O. Tetteh Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Nurain Abdul-Kareem Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Fatima P. Abubakar Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Candy A. E. Wilson Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • David A. Afrifa 3) Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 11) Department of Medical Laboratory, Ankaase Methodist Hospital, Kumasi,, Ghana
  • Yasir Ishaq Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Ruth A. A. Wedam Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Fremah P. Agyeman-Duah Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Kingsford O. Appiah Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Yeduah Quansah Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Peace E. Agbadza Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale,, Ghana
  • Clement B. Dagungong 6) Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana. 12) Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,, Ghana
  • Michael Owusu Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,, Ghana
  • Felix E. Chukwurah Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki,, Nigeria

Downloads

Background: Disturbance in naturally-occurring anticoagulants may contribute to the hypercoagulable state in COVID-19. This study determined the plasma antigen levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS), antithrombin-III (AT-III), and thrombomodulin (TM) before treatment and after recovery from COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from February to August 2022 at Kumasi South Hospital, recruited sixty-five RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 participants. A venous blood sample was taken for full blood count (FBC) analysis using a 3-part fully automated haematology analyzer, and PC, PS, AT-III, and TM antigen levels measured using ELISA. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Severe COVID-19 participants had relatively lower haemoglobin (p<0.001), RBC (p<0.001), HCT% (p<0.001) and platelets (p<0.001), but higher RDW-CV% (p=0.013), WBC (p<0.001), and absolute lymphocyte counts (p<0.001) compared to those with the non-severe form of the disease. The overall prevalence of anaemia among the participants was 58.5%, and 32 (84.2%) and 6 (15.8%) of the anaemic participants had mild and moderate anaemia respectively. Protein C (p<0.001), PS (p<0.001) and ATIII (p<0.001) levels were lower among the severe COVID-19 participants than in the non-severe group. But severe COVID-19 group had higher TM levels (p<0.001) than the non-severe group. Again, participants had higher haemoglobin (p<0.001), RBC (p<0.001), HCT% (p=0.049), absolute neutrophil count (p<0.001) and platelets (p<0.001) after recovery from COVID-19 than the values on admission. Additionally, after recovery, participants had higher levels of PC (p<0.001), PS (p<0.001), and ATIII (p<0.001), but reduced TM (p<0.001). Conclusion: Severe COVID-19 patients had higher PC, PS, and AT-III, but lower TM levels. The changes in circulating anticoagulants may contribute to the hypercoagulable state of COVID-19. Blood cell indices are negatively affected during COVID-19. Complete recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 infection normalised the haematological indices. Assessment of naturally-occurring anticoagulants and the provision of anticoagulants are recommended in the management of COVID-19.

 

Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2022-04-04-01

Full Text: PDF