SIAP Virology & Physiology of SARS-COV-2 in High Risk Popuation

AggieDruggist89

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10:00a, 5/9/20

AG

Great Read

Let's discuss. My biochem classes at A&M and pathophysiology in grad school pay off... After 30 years. I understand this language.

Warning, you may learn some cool catch phrases like Polybasic furin cleavage sites.. Spike Protein..

TLDR: High Plasminogen serum level secreted by adipose tissues make Covid 19 go haywire-infect high risk population: obese, elderly with metabolic syndrome.

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plain_o_llama

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In reply to AggieDruggist89 • 1:26p, 5/9/20

This is an important topic. It needs a more attention grabbing thread title. :-)

Something like

Why obesity and hypertension are so dangerous: A theory

Elevated plasmin(ogen) levels are a common feature in COVID-19 patients with underlying medical conditions. The elevated plasmin(ogen) could be an independent factor for risk stratification of patients with COVID-19. Measurements of plasmin(ogen) levels and its enzymatic activity may be important biomarkers of disease severity in addition to resultant D-dimer. The administration of antiproteases to suppress plasmin activity in the respiratory system may prevent, or at least decrease, SARS-CoV-2 entry into respiratory cells and improve the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19.

And there is a suggestion we need some obese mice and monkeys to run tests on

Currently there are no proper animal models of COVID-19 with underlying medical conditions to test new therapeutic agents. Healthy mice and monkeys infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop either mild lung injury or show no symptoms of disease (8). It remains to be seen whether mice and monkeys with preexisting comorbid conditions and higher plasmin levels develop COVID-19 when infected with SARS-CoV-2.

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Kool

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1:41p, 5/9/20

AG

There is definitely a fair bit of attention about this in the literature. It can be difficult to power studies to determine how significant of a factor obesity is in morbidity and mortality from just about any disease, as obesity comes along with so many other comorbidities. However, as mentioned here:
Summary of Preliminary Data about Obesity and Severity of COVID-19
it would appear that obesity is indeed an independent risk factor for severity.

TL;DR

"overweight and, particularly, obesity may associate with a substantial risk of a severe course of COVID-19. Importantly, these studies suggest that this risk is independent of cardiometabolic diseases and other comorbidities"

No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.

plain_o_llama

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In reply to Kool • 2:33p, 5/9/20

This is an interesting element in the German paper

Stefan N, Birkenfeld AL, Schulze MB, Ludwig DS. Obesity and impaired metabolic health in patients with COVID-19. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2020, doi.org/10.1038/s41574-020-0364-6

Obesity-related comorbidities and mechanisms of a severe course of COVID-19.
Fig. 1

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