Research Information System
NAMIK KEMAL MEDICAL JOURNAL, vol.14, no.1, pp.78-85, 2026 (ESCI, TRDizin)
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the potential associations among serum levels of the glycoprotein Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) which plays a critical role in platelet function the rs5918 polymorphism in the ITGB3 gene, and biochemical parameters (platelet count, D-dimer, fibrinogen, mean platelet volume, C-reactive protein) in patients who developed pulmonary embolism (PE) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using DNA and serum samples from 80 adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022. Patients were divided into two groups as PE positive PE(+) and PE negative PE(-). The rs5918 polymorphism was analyzed using the TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping method on a real-time polymerase chain reaction system. Serum GPIIb/IIIa levels were measured using the ELISA method. Demographic, hematological, and biochemical data were retrieved from patient records and analyzed statistically.Results: Platelet count (p=0.007) and D-dimer levels (p<0.001) were found to be significantly higher in the PE(+) group. No significant difference was observed in GPIIb/IIIa serum levels between the PE(+) and PE(-) groups (p=0.42). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding rs5918 genotype and allele distributions. However, significant differences in D-dimer levels were observed across genotypes.Conclusion: Although rs5918 polymorphism and GPIIb/IIIa serum levels were not directly associated with the development of PE in COVID-19 patients, the findings suggest that genetic variation may influence certain coagulation parameters. These results indicate the need for further studies to explore genetic determinants of thrombotic processes associated with COVID-19.