Measurement of oxidized albumin: An opportunity for diagnoses or treatment of COVID-19

Human serum albumin (HSA) as the most abundant protein in human blood plasma, can be a good indicator for evaluating severity of some diseases in the clinic. HSA can be find in two forms: reduced albumin (human mercaptalbumin (HMA)) and oxidized albumin (human non-mercaptalbumin (HNA)). The rate of oxidized albumin to total albumin can be enhanced in multiple diseases. Increase in HNA level have been demonstrated in liver, diabetes plus fatigue and coronary artery diseases. In liver patients, this enhancement can reach to 50–200 percent which can then lead to bacterial/viral infections and eventually death in severe conditions. Due to the induction of cytokine storm, we can say that the level of HNA in serum of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients may be a positive predictor of mortality, especially in patients with underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, aging and other inflammatory diseases. We suggest that checking oxidized albumin in COVID-19 patients may provide new therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities to better combat COVID-19.