VEGF and sFlt-1 Levels in the Pathogenesis and Severity of COVID-19 Disease

When patients are sick with other lung infections (pneumonias) caused by viruses or bacteria
there are changes in a pathway that regulates the "leakiness" the tiny airspaces inside the
lungs. Even bigger changes in this pathway are seen when patients develop severe breathing
difficulties (acute respiratory distress syndrome) similar to what is seen in patients who
get really sick with COVID-19 disease.

There are important changes in this pathway that occur in patients who have preexisting
cardiovascular (heart) disease who do not have lung infections. The investigator will
evaluate these levels in patients with COVID-19 because the investigator believes that this
baseline difference in pathway regulation may be one reason patients with heart disease who
contract COVID-19 get sicker than patients without heart or vascular disease.

The investigator will also assess the levels of components of this pathway in patients who
are less sick with those who became sick enough to require a tube to help them breathe
because this is important to determine if COVID-19 lung disease has a similar effect on this
pathway as other lung infections like flu and bacterial pneumonias.