Arslan, Nevra GulluAksakal, SengulYilmam, IlkerGorgun, Selim2024-06-122024-06-1220220494-1373https://doi.org/10.5578/tt.20229808https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/yayin/detay/531238https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/20178VEGF, IL-17 and IgG4 levels of patients with lung sequelae in post-COVID-19 period Introduction: Although the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients have been described; the pathogenesis of the disease and its long-term consequences are still unclear. Pulmonary fibrosis is one of these late outcomes. In this study we evaluated Interleukin-17 (IL-17), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels of COVID-19 infected patients with different clinical course and their effect on pulmonary fibrosis in post-COVID period. Materials and Methods: In total, 90 patients were evaluated. Among the patients who presented for a control visit between 3-12 weeks after acute infection; patients with signs of pulmonary sequelae radiologically (traction bronchiectasis, interseptal thickening, disorders in parenchyma architecture) were classified as Group I (n= 32), patients who recovered without sequelae radiologically as Group II (n= 32). The Control group included healthy individuals who did not have COVID-19, and was classified as Group III (n= 26). Results: The mean age in Group I was significantly higher than Group II and III (p< 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the VEGF and IL-17 values based on the patient group they are in (p< 0.05). Vascular endothelial growth factor values of Group I and III were significantly lower than the patients in Group II (p< 0.001). IL-17 values of Group I and II were found to be significantly lower than Group III (p= 0.005). There was no statistically significant relationship between groups in terms of IgG4 values. Conclusion: In our study, it was observed that the profibrotic effects of VEGF, IL-17, and IgG4 were not dominant in patients who recovered with pulmonary sequelae after COVID; therefore, it is thought that different mechanisms mentioned or not yet revealed may cause this outcome.en10.5578/tt.20229808info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCOVID-19IL-17VEGFIgg4Pulmonary SequelaeEndothelial Growth-FactorClinical CharacteristicsCytokinesSars-Cov-2ChemokinesHealthCellsArticle702179186N/AWOS:0008220962000082-s2.0-8513330399635785882Q3531238