Retinal changes as evidenced by fundoscopy and their frequencies in patients with COVID-19 with different variants of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene

Authors

  • K. M. Hutsaliuk Volyn Regional Clinical Hospital
  • Z. I. Rossokha SI “Reference-centre for molecular diagnostic of Public Health Ministry of Ukraine”
  • N. Iu. Skalska Volyn Regional Clinical Hospital
  • N. A. Ulianova SI "The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine" https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0802-240X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31288/oftalmolzh202415460

Keywords:

retina, fundoscopy, retinal changes, COVID-19, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene variants

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; rs4340) gene variants and the retinal changes as evidenced by fundoscopy in patients with various clinical courses of COVID-19.
Material and Methods: Ninety-four COVID-19-positive patients (188 eyes) were included in the study. They had an extremely severe course, severe course, or moderately severe course of the disease with decompensated or compensated comorbidity. We evaluated the distribution of ACE ACE genotypes among patients and determined the retinal changes in COVID-19 patients with different ACE genotypes. Fundus images were obtained with a handheld fundus camera to identify clinically significant and insignificant retinal changes. A molecular and genetic study of ACE gene (rs4340) variants was carried out using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis of correlations between the course of COVID-19 and the presence of retinal changes as well as between the ACE gene variant and the presence of retinal changes was conducted.
Results: Among the analyzed individuals, 28 (29.6%), 47 (50.5%) and 19 (19.9%) were found to have the II genotype, ID genotype, and DD genotype, respectively. We found no significant correlation between metabolic status, severity of COVID-19 course and the ACE gene variant. No significant difference was found among groups of COVID-19 patients of different ACE genotypes with respect to the distribution of particular retinal changes. There was an increase (p < 0.001) in the risk of clinically significant retinal changes in patients with the DD genotype compared to patients with the II genotype and those with the ID genotype (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The risk of clinically significant retinal changes is higher in COVID-19 patients with ACE genotype DD than in those with genotype II or ID (p < 0.001).

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Published

2024-02-29

How to Cite

1.
Hutsaliuk KM, Rossokha ZI, Skalska NI, Ulianova NA. Retinal changes as evidenced by fundoscopy and their frequencies in patients with COVID-19 with different variants of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene. J.ophthalmol. (Ukraine) [Internet]. 2024 Feb. 29 [cited 2024 Dec. 21];(1):54-60. Available from: https://ua.ozhurnal.com/index.php/files/article/view/120

Issue

Section

Clinical Ophthalmology