Dimitrios Kalogirou

Background: Exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), whether via infection or vaccination, seems to influence the character of the menstrual cycle by disrupting hormonal and immune function. Methods: The main aim of this cohort study was to explore the association between exposure to SARS-CoV-2—through either vaccination or infection—and menstrual disorders in adolescent females. We also aimed at identifying the most prevalent menstrual disorders observed and assessing potential differences between the exposure groups that may contribute to these conditions. Results: This study included data from adolescent females who visited the Center for Adolescent Medicine and UNESCO Chair in Adolescent Health Care due to various menstrual disorders. Data from 92 adolescents, 77 participants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and 15 controls, were retrieved. Significant associations were found between exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and abnormally frequent uterine bleeding (p = 0.032) and abnormal uterine bleeding (p = 0.025). Adolescents with a past confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrated significantly lower serum concentrations of fibrinogen (p = 0.023) and iron (p = 0.03), as well as higher γ-GT concentrations (p = 0.028), than those who were non-infected, whereas vaccinated adolescents presented with significantly lower concentrations of coagulation factors VIII (p = 0.002), vWFAg (p = 0.023), and Rcof (p = 0.007) than those of their unvaccinated peers. Overall, adolescents exposed [infection (or/and) vaccination] to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated increased estradiol (E2) concentrations compared to those of the controls. In conclusion, adolescent exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was strongly linked to abnormal uterine bleeding and polymenorrhea, potentially due to decreased coagulation factors or increased E2 concentrations. Conclusions: Further research involving larger samples and a more sophisticated design is needed to validate these findings.

Background: Telomere attrition has been implicated in immune function and vulnerability to infectious diseases. However, the relation between telomere length and COVID-19 severity remains unclear. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients aged 30–75 years, with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as age- and BMI-matched controls without COVID-19, were recruited over a period of 1 year (2021–2022) from the outpatient clinics and wards of the General Hospitals “Laiko” and “Elpis” in Athens, Greece. Telomere length, expressed as a telomere to single-copy gene (T/S) ratio, was measured in all participants using a quantitative PCR-based method. Participants’ clinical, biochemical, demographic, and respiratory parameters were assessed in relation to their telomere length. Results: Study participants included a total of 139 individuals divided into three groups: controls (n = 34), patients with non-severe COVID-19 (n = 50), and patients with severe COVID-19 (n = 55). Patients with severe COVID-19 had significantly shorter telomeres when compared to both the non-severe COVID-19 group and controls (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that telomere length was independently associated with disease severity (p < 0.001). Females demonstrated longer telomeres than males (p = 0.039), but no significant correlation was found between telomere length and age. When patients with non-severe and severe COVID-19 were analyzed together, no significant difference in telomere length was observed compared to controls (p = 0.727). Conclusions: Shortened telomeres may be linked to more severe forms of COVID-19, suggesting a potential role for telomere biology in disease progression. Results highlight the need for further research into telomere dynamics as a biomarker for disease susceptibility and outcome in viral infections.