Ferritin and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) may predict the COVID-19 patient’s fate

Zahra A. Kheudhier^1*, Alaa K. Mossa²

Circulating biomarkers are an essential predictor for the prognosis of COVID-19-infected patients as they represent the severity of inflammation and immune status.

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has rapidly spread worldwide. Clinical outcomes and disease severity are still unknown and can be difficult to predict. In this study, we perform a cross-sectional observational study to investigate the clinical characteristics of ferritin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein status of patients infected with COVID-19 that may predict the COVID-19 patient’s fate. Methods: A total of 106 patients (56 males and 50 females, their ages ranging from 19 to 70 years) who were confirmed to have COVID-19 by real-time RT-PCR were recruited in this study. Blood samples were withdrawn, and biochemical tests (serum ferritin and C-reactive protein) were performed. The gained data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software. Results: Overall, the findings showed that ferritin and C-reactive protein were increased from day 1 to day 7 and then decreased on day 14 after diagnosis in patients who are released after full recovery. While they still dramatically increased from day 1 to day 7 to day 14 in those who moved to the intensive care unit or died by day 14. No gender-based differences were noted. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the patient’s fate and disease severity can be predicted at day 7 based on these two biomarkers.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 patient’s fate; C-reactive protein; ICU; Serum ferritin

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