@article{hbkup:/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2022.ismc.2, author = "Al-Ghurabi, Batool H. and Adham, Zeina S. and Abbas, Ahmed A.", title = "Level of β-defensin among Iraqi patients with COVID-19 in relation to oral health status", journal= "Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care", year = "2022", volume = "2022", number = "3 - The International and Scientific Conference of Alnahrain College of Medicine and Colleges of Medicine in Iraq confronting COVID-19 Pandemic (ISMC-2022) ", pages = "", doi = "https://doi.org/10.5339/jemtac.2022.ismc.2", url = "https://www.qscience.com/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2022.ismc.2", publisher = "Hamad bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press)", issn = "1999-7094", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "SARS-CoV-2", keywords = "defensin", keywords = "COVID-19", keywords = "antimicrobial peptide", eid = "2", abstract = "Background: Innate immunity plays an important role in deciding the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and disease outcomes. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that are produced by epithelial cells in mucosal locations and play a key role in innate immunity. Understanding COVID-19 mucosal agents and their role in disease severity is critical for developing therapeutic options and identification of prognostic markers for COVID-19. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the role of β-defensin-1 in patients with COVID-19 and compare it with that of the control group, as well as to look into the link between β-defensin-1 and oral hygiene and disease severity. Methods: This case-control study included 50 patients with COVID-19 and 35 controls of similar ages and sexes. From November 2020 to January 2021, the patients were admitted to Baghdad Teaching Hospital/Medical City. The simplified oral hygiene index was used to determine oral hygiene status. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects (patients and controls), and the serum levels of β-defensin-1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Findings showed a non-significant reduction (P>0.05) in the β-defensin-1 level among patients compared with that of the controls. In addition, patients with severe disease had a significantly lower level of β-defensin-1 than those with mild disease. There were no significant variations in the levels of β-defensin-1 between patients with good oral hygiene and those with poor oral hygiene (P>0.05). Conclusions: The reduction in β-defensin-1 levels indicates an abnormal immune response in these patients and may require a new treatment option for this condition in the future. Furthermore, in patients with severe disease, a considerable drop in β-defensin-1 might be used as an indicator of illness severity.", }