The significance of taurine for patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and COVID-19 diseases: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives In this study, we aimed to evaluate the change in taurine levels in two diseases [Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)], which have a significant impact on public health as they frequently cause mortality and morbidity. Methods This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between September 15, 2023, and November 30, 2023, at the Emergency Department, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine. There were three groups in our study. These groups were 35 COVID-19 patients with confirmed diagnosis, 35 CCHF patients, and a control group consisting of 35 healthy volunteers who were similar to these patient groups in terms of age and gender. Plasma amino acid levels of taurine, β-alanine, arginine, carnosine, cystine, histidine, lysine, and methionine were measured and compared in these three groups. Results In the pairwise comparison of the groups, the increase in taurine plasma levels in CCHF (p<0.001) and COVID-19 (p=0.002) patients compared to the control group was statistically significant, whereas the difference between CCHF and COVID-19 patient groups was not significant (p=0.303). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that taurine, β-alanine, arginine, and lysine levels were significant predictors in differentiating patients with CCHF and COVID-19 from healthy individuals. Conclusions We concluded that it may be important to determine taurine levels during the treatment and observation processes of these two diseases, which seriously affect public health. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the CCHF and COVID-19 diseases.