THE IMPACT OF ACE2 GENE POLYMORPHISM (RS2285666) ON CREATININE AND CREATINE KINASE LEVELS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DISEASE SEVERITY.

COVID-19 manifests with a spectrum of symptoms, varying in intensity, and can lead to fatal outcomes in certain instances. Within the human genetic makeup, the ACE2 (angiotensinconverting enzyme 2) gene governs the production of the ACE2 protein--a receptor situated on the surface of human cells. This receptor holds a pivotal role in the control of blood pressure and cardiovascular functions. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of the ACE2 gene polymorphism (rs2285666) on serum creatinine and creatine kinase (CK) levels among COVID-19 patients and to assess its association with disease severity. The research encompassed 750 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, all of whom were enrolled at General Hospital Tešanj. These patients were categorized into three groups based on the severity of their condition--mild, moderate, and severe. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples. The genotyping process was carried out using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio5 RT-PCR System. Our findings revealed noteworthy associations within the group of patients exhibiting mild disease severity. Specifically, individuals carrying the CC (93.59±3.02) and TT genotypes (93.59±3.02) demonstrated significantly elevated creatinine levels in comparison to those with the CT genotype (79.32±3.27), with p-values of <0.001 and 0.011, respectively. Additionally, among patients with a mild clinical outcomes, those with the CC genotype (322.98 ± 59.04) displayed significantly higher creatine kinase levels (p=0.043) when contrasted with individuals carrying the CT genotype (151.87 ± 38.07). However, within the groups of patients with moderate and severe clinical picture, our results did not reveal statistically significant associations between different genotypes and creatinine and CK levels. ACE2 gene polymorphism (rs2285666) appears to influence creatinine and creatine kinase levels specifically in COVID-19 patients with mild disease severity, suggesting a potential genetic basis for variations in renal and muscle function within this subgroup. However, no statistically significant associations were found in patients with moderate and severe clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]