The relationship of serum 25-hydroxycalciferol levels with the severity of the new COVID-19 coronavirus infection in pregnant women

Abstract

Introduction Novel coronavirus infection (NCI) COVID-19 in women during pregnancy has a different course – from asymptomatic to severe and extremely severe. Associations between the severity of NCI COVID-19 and the serum level of 25-hydroxycalciferol (25(OH)D), which is an active metabolite of vitamin D, are currently being studied. There are few data on the association of vitamin D deficiency with severe NCI in the general population, even less data reflecting the level of 25(OH)D in the blood serum of pregnant women suffering from NCI of varying degrees of severity. Purpose of research was to conduct clinical laboratory comparisons, including the level of the active metabolite of vitamin D 25-hydroxycalciferol in the blood serum of pregnant women with COVID-19 NCI of varying degrees of severity. Materials and methods. Under observation there were 29 pregnant women living in Chelyabinsk and Chelyabinsk region, who were admitted to the maternity obstetric service of the infectious hospital for patients with NCI COVID-19 during the 3rd–4th wave of the pandemic. Group 1 consisted of 16 pregnant women with severe NCI COVID-19. Group 2 included 13 pregnant women with mild NCI COVID-19. Serum 25(OH)D levels in these patients were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results. The patients with severe NCI COVID-19 are statistically more likely to be deficient in vitamin D, while adequate levels of the latter are not recorded. Discussion. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a more prominent systemic response with the development of a cytokine storm and cause a severe course of NCI COVID-19. Conclusions. The conducted research demonstrated the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with the severity of NCI COVID-19 in pregnant women. We suggest that vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a predictor of the severe course of NCI COVID-19.