New gene differences identified in patients with severe COVID-19

Scientists have identified 16 new gene variants in people who developed a severe form of coronavirus.

The study should help expertsdevelop new effective methods for treating seriously ill patients. Scientists say the information obtained from the study will help prioritize likely treatments, as well as potentially predict which patients are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill.

“It is possible that in the future we will be able to dopredictions about the prospects of patients based on their genome at the time of their admission to intensive care,” said Kenneth Bailey, consultant in critical care at the University of Edinburgh and one of the authors of the study.

Researchers have found changes in key genes that regulate levels of clotting factor VIII, a protein involved in blood clots.

“Blood clotting is one of the main reasons COVID-19 patients develop oxygen deprivation,” Bailey said.

At the same time, the scientist noted that researchers will not be able to find out how effective the drugs they offer are until they test them on people - this is their main task for the current year.

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