The hormonal environment (steroid, primarily) could have a very relevantpathophysiological role in association with SARS-CoV-2. That is, testosterone could playa relevant role in leaving male subjects more exposed to infection and more prone todeveloping severe complications following COVID-19 infection.
Preliminary data suggests that male individuals are more susceptible to COVID-19
infection, at least in Western countries, and that their mortality rate is higher than
female individuals. This would seem to suggest that the hormonal environment (steroid,
primarily) could have a very relevant pathophysiological role in association with
SARS-CoV-2. That is, testosterone could play a relevant role in leaving male subjects
more exposed to infection and more prone to developing severe complications following
COVID-19 infection. Another option is that COVID-19 infection could cause a condition of
acute hypogonadism, following which, the exhaustion of androgenic action could act as a
co-trigger of a severe or even fatal course of the disease.
Diagnostic Test: Collection of biological data
Biological sample will be collected from the COVID19 patients and from healthy donors
Inclusion Criteria:
Patient Cohort:
- Male patients with an age > 18 hospitalized in the departments dedicated to the care
of patients affected by COVID-19 at the San Raffaele Hospital and with:
- biological samples positive for SARS-CoV-2;
- negative test but highly suggestive clinical and radiological picture;
- patients discharged from the emergency room with biological samples positive for
SARS-CoV-2;
- ability to read and sign the informed consent
Control Cohort:
- healthy donors with an age> 18 accessing the IRCCS OSR Blood Donor Center;
- ability to read and sign the informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- People with an age < 18;
- incapacity to read and sign the informed consent
IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Investigator: Andrea Salonia, MD
Contact: 02 2643 5661
salonia.andrea@hsr.it
Anna Maria Ferrara
0226437795
ferrara.annamaria@hsr.it
Not Provided