Researchers believe the secretion of the sPLA2-IIA enzyme in COVID-19 patients could be the most important predictor of death in patients.
sPLA2-IIA, which has similarities to an active enzyme in rattlesnake venom, is found in low concentrations in healthy individuals and has long been known to play a critical role in defence against bacterial infections.
READ RELATED: How to get rid of visceral fat: Four foods to include in your diet to shed the belly fat
However, when the enzyme circulates at high levels, it has the capacity to shred the body’s vital organs, according to Floyd Chilton, senior author on the paper.
Doctor Chilton said: “It’s a bell-shaped curve of disease resistance versus host tolerance.
Source: Daily Express
