The prognostic value of angiotensin I converting enzyme gene polymorphism and streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) deletion/deletion polymorphisms represent a marker of thrombosis, increasing thrombosis risk in unpredisposing individuals, especially in severe corona virus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia, and playing a crucial role in early disease progression. This work aimed to investigate the prognostic value of ACE gene polymorphism among COVID-19 individuals developing Streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection.Methods: The retrospective observational case control study included sixty cases, suffering from COVID-19 pneumoniae hospitalized between December 2021 and March 2022. All participants were categorized equally into two groups: Group (I): cases having COVID-19 were classified into two subgroups [(Ia) (n=6): positive streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection and (Ib) (n=54): negative streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection] and group (II): apparently healthy people as a control group.Results: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ACE levels, PaO2, bacteriological examination, genotypic distribution of the insertion (I) deletion (D) polymorphism of the ACE showed a significant variation among the analyzed groups (p