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Emadi-Baygi M, Ehsanifard M, Afrashtehpour N, Norouzi M, Joz-Abbasalian Z. Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a System-Level Infectious Disease With Distinct Sex Disparities. Front Immunol 2021; 12:778913. [PMID: 34912345 PMCID: PMC8667725 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.778913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The current global pandemic of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19, has infected millions of people and continues to pose a threat to many more. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an important player of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) expressed on the surface of the lung, heart, kidney, neurons, and endothelial cells, which mediates SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cells. The cytokine storms of COVID-19 arise from the large recruitment of immune cells because of the dis-synchronized hyperactive immune system, lead to many abnormalities including hyper-inflammation, endotheliopathy, and hypercoagulability that produce multi-organ dysfunction and increased the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis resulting in more severe illness and mortality. We discuss the aberrated interconnectedness and forthcoming crosstalks between immunity, the endothelium, and coagulation, as well as how sex disparities affect the severity and outcome of COVID-19 and harm men especially. Further, our conceptual framework may help to explain why persistent symptoms, such as reduced physical fitness and fatigue during long COVID, may be rooted in the clotting system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Modjtaba Emadi-Baygi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Ehsanifard
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Najmeh Afrashtehpour
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahnaz Norouzi
- Department of Research and Development, Erythrogen Medical Genetics Lab, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zahra Joz-Abbasalian
- Clinical Laboratory, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Indirli R, Ferrante E, Scalambrino E, Profka E, Clerici M, Lettera T, Serban AL, Vena W, Pizzocaro A, Bonomi M, Cangiano B, Carosi G, Mazziotti G, Persani L, Lania A, Arosio M, Peyvandi F, Mantovani G, Tripodi A. Procoagulant Imbalance in Klinefelter Syndrome Assessed by Thrombin Generation Assay and Whole-Blood Thromboelastometry. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e1660-e1672. [PMID: 33382882 PMCID: PMC7993570 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a condition at increased risk of thrombosis compared to 46,XY men. OBJECTIVE This work aimed to investigate the coagulation balance of KS patients by thrombin generation assay (TGA) and thromboelastometry. METHODS An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at 3 tertiary endocrinological centers in Milan, Italy. Fifty-eight KS patients and 58 age-matched healthy controls were included. Anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy and known coagulation disorders were exclusion criteria. TGA was performed in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Whole-blood thromboelastometry and activities of coagulation factors were assessed. Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), the area under the thrombin generation curve, assessed with and without thrombomodulin (ETP-TM+ and ETP-TM-), and their ratio (ETP ratio), were considered as indexes of procoagulant imbalance. RESULTS Patients with KS displayed higher PPP-ETP-TM+ (mean 1528 vs 0.1315 nM × min; P < .001), PPP-ETP ratio (0.78 vs 0.0.70; P < .001), factor (F)VIII (135% vs 0.107%; P = .001), fibrinogen (283 vs 0.241 mg/dL; P < .001), and FVIII/protein C ratio (1.21 vs 0.1.06; P < .05) compared to controls. Protein C was comparable in the 2 groups. Similar results were observed in PRP. The ETP ratio was positively associated with FVIII (ρ = 0.538, P < .001) in KS. Thromboelastometry parameters confirmed evidence of hypercoagulability in KS. CONCLUSION Patients with KS display a procoagulant imbalance expressed by increased thrombin generation both in PPP and PRP, which is at least in part explained by increased FVIII levels. The procoagulant imbalance, which was confirmed by thromboelastometry, may be responsible for the thrombotic events observed in these patients. Further investigation on the benefit/risk ratio of antithrombotic prophylaxis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Indirli
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Ferrante
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erica Scalambrino
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Eriselda Profka
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marigrazia Clerici
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Lettera
- Laboratorio analisi, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreea Liliana Serban
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Vena
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pizzocaro
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bonomi
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Biagio Cangiano
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Carosi
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gherardo Mazziotti
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Persani
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Lania
- Endocrinology, Diabetology and Andrology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Maura Arosio
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Flora Peyvandi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mantovani
- Endocrinology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: Giovanna Mantovani, MD, PhD, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department: Endocrinology Unit, Via Francesco Sforza, 35, Milan, 20122, Italy.
| | - Armando Tripodi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
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Pivonello R, Auriemma RS, Pivonello C, Isidori AM, Corona G, Colao A, Millar RP. Sex Disparities in COVID-19 Severity and Outcome: Are Men Weaker or Women Stronger? Neuroendocrinology 2020; 111:1066-1085. [PMID: 33242856 PMCID: PMC7900484 DOI: 10.1159/000513346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health issue which has profound effects on most aspects of societal well-being, including physical and mental health. A plethora of studies globally have suggested the existence of a sex disparity in the severity and outcome of COVID-19 patients, mainly due to mechanisms of virus infection, immune response to the virus, development of systemic inflammation, and consequent systemic complications, particularly thromboembolism. Epidemiological data report a sex difference in the severity of COVID-19, with a more favorable course of the disease in women compared to men regardless of age, although the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to be similar in both sexes. Sex hormones, including androgens and estrogens, may not only impact virus entry and load, but also shape the clinical manifestations, complications, and ultimately the outcome of the disease. The current review comprehensively summarizes the current literature on sex disparities in susceptibility and outcome of COVID-19 as well as the literature underpinning the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms, which may provide a rationale to a sex disparity. These mechanisms include sex hormone influence on factors that facilitate virus entry and priming, immune and inflammatory response, as well as coagulation and thrombosis diathesis. Based on present evidence, women appear to be relatively protected from COVID-19 because of a more effective immune response and a less pronounced systemic inflammation, with consequent moderate clinical manifestations of the disease, together with a lesser predisposition to thromboembolism. Conversely, men appear to be particularly susceptible to COVID-19 because of a less effective immune response with consequent severe clinical manifestations of the disease, together with a greater predisposition to thromboembolism. In the elderly, generally characterized by the phenomenon of inflammaging, sex disparities in overall mortality following SARS-CoV-2 infection are even more palpable as elderly men appear to be more prone to severe COVID-19 because of a greater predisposition to infections, a weaker immune defense, and an enhanced thrombotic state compared to women. The information revealed from the review highlights potential novel therapeutic approaches employing the administration of hormonal or antihormonal therapy in combination with antiviral drugs in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Unità di Andrologia e Medicina della Riproduzione e della Sessualità Maschile e Femminile (FERTISEXCARES), Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy,
- UNESCO Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy,
| | - Renata S Auriemma
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea M Isidori
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corona
- Endocrinology Unit, Medical Department, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Sezione di Endocrinologia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Robert P Millar
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Neurosciences Institute and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Kyriakakis N, Lynch J, Ajjan R, Murray RD. The effects of pituitary and thyroid disorders on haemostasis: potential clinical implications. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2016; 84:473-84. [PMID: 25753252 DOI: 10.1111/cen.12767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Disturbances of coagulation and fibrinolysis are usually multifactorial and growing evidence suggests that endocrinopathies modulate the haemostatic balance. The thrombotic alterations in endocrine disorders range from mild laboratory clotting abnormalities with little clinical significance to serious thrombotic and bleeding disorders directly related to hormonal disturbances. This literature review focuses on presenting the current data on the effects of thyroid and pituitary disorders on various parameters of the haemostatic system. With the exception of overt hypothyroidism which appears to cause a bleeding tendency, the rest of the endocrinopathies discussed in this review (subclinical hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, endogenous hypercortisolaemia, growth hormone deficiency, acromegaly, prolactinoma/hyperprolactinaemia and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism) are associated with a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, increasing the overall cardiovascular risk and thromboembolic potential in these patients. In most studies, the haemostatic abnormalities seen in endocrine disorders are usually reversible with successful treatment of the underlying condition and biochemical disease remission. High-quality studies on larger patient cohorts are needed to produce robust evidence on the effects of endocrine disorders and their therapeutic interventions on coagulation and fibrinolysis, as well as on the long-term mortality and morbidity outcomes in association with endocrine-related haemostatic imbalance. Given the rarity of some of the endocrine disorders, multicentre studies are required to achieve this target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Kyriakakis
- Department of Endocrinology, Leeds Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Julie Lynch
- Department of Endocrinology, Leeds Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Ramzi Ajjan
- Department of Endocrinology, Leeds Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
- Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert D Murray
- Department of Endocrinology, Leeds Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
- Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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