Excess soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 correlates with endothelial dysfunction and organ failure in critically ill COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Excess soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), a soluble inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway, has been demonstrated to promote endothelial dysfunction. Here we demonstrate that sFlt-1 plasma levels correlate with respiratory symptoms severity, expression of endothelial dysfunction biomarker and incidence of organ failure in COVID-19 patients.