الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background : COVID-19 infection is one of the most serious pandemics known in the last century, claiming millions of lives over the last 2 years. Endothelial injury and the accompanied inflammatory changes known as ”cytokine storm” are strongly accused in the initiation and worsening of the disease. Objectives: We aimed at studying the role of both VEGF and CD144 as markers of endothelial injury in COVID-19 patients and their relation to severity of the disease. Patients and Methods: 90 COVID-19 patients were included, 30 mild, 30 moderate, and 30 severe cases. All participants were evaluated through accurate medical history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations: CBC, PT and INR, serum creatinine, ALT, AST, serum albumin, and serum bilirubin, VEGF, CD144, D-dimer, and CRP, and radiological examination with: high resolution non contrast CT of the chest. Results : The study showed that both VEGF and CD-144 as markers for endothelial injury are found to be at their lowest values in the most severe cases, while they are higher in the milder form of the disease, both D-dimer and CRP are found to be more elevated in the most severe cases. Also there is positive correlation between each of: age, temperature, WBCs count, NLR, INR, bilirubin, ALT and AST and the severity of the disease and a negative correlation between each of: lymphocytic count, and albumin and the severity of the disease. Chest CT could predict the severity of the disease according to the severity of lung affection and the possibility of ARDS development. Conclusion: Both VEGF and CD-144 could be used as endothelial markers and good predictors of severity in COVID-19 patients.