Andbank collaborates in the first research project on COVID patients in Andorra

Andorra, 9 June, 2020.

Andorra will conduct a clinical research project in the Intensive Care Unit of the Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital (Andorran Health Care Service) to investigate the correlation between mechanical ventilation parameters and inflammatory markers in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU.

The SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19 disease) can cause acute pulmonary inflammation, similar to an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in which a cytokine storm is released causing the inflammation and lung damage. There is no proven specific treatment and many patients require mechanical ventilation. There are no specific markers.

To study this, the Andorran Health Care Service research team initiates this project with the aim of determining the characteristics and possible correlations between the mechanical ventilation parameters and the concentration of cytokines in plasma in the COVID patients admitted to the ICU during different phases. The cytokines concentrations will be measured at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR).

This team will be co-led by Doctor Margarit, as the Head of Service, Doctors Vizmanos and Alfaro, and Doctor Maria Jesús Cruz, from the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute.

As regards the methodology, it is a retrospective study of cases of patients who were admitted to the ICU with this disease from March 2020. Several criteria such as demographics, the clinical status and the characteristics of the mechanical ventilation will be included. The serum samples will be sent to the Pulmonology laboratory at the VHIR to determine the levels of cytokines.

From the outset, Andbank has given all its support to dealing with this health crisis looking for a way to help alleviate this global pandemic, and for this reason it has not hesitated to collaborate in a project that will provide more information and tools to be used for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and to enhance scientific knowledge.

The Bank’s spokesperson has commented that “one of our objectives in terms of corporate social responsibility is not only the fight against cancer and oncological research, but also the commitment and support with which we interact with society. Therefore, this global pandemic is a matter that is sufficiently important to make all our resources available to people and teams which may be able to provide solutions and methods to combat the disease.”

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