Abstract
Objectives: Mounting evidence links hyperinflammation in gravely ill patients to low serum iron levels and hyperferritinemia. However, little attention has been paid to other iron-associated markers such as transferrin. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different iron parameters in severe COVID-19 and their relation to disease severity.
Subjects and methods: This study involved 73 hospitalized patients with positive test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients were classified into two groups according to symptom severity: mild and severe. Blood levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, interleukin 6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and iron-related biomarkers were measured.
Results: The results revealed a significant increase in IL-6, CRP, and ferritin levels and decreased transferrin and iron levels in severe COVID-19. Transferrin negatively predicted variations in IgM and IgG levels (P < 0.001), as well as 34.4% and 36.6% increase in IL-6 and CRP levels, respectively (P < 0.005). Importantly, transferrin was the main negative predictor of ferritin levels, determining 22.7% of serum variations (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Reduced serum transferrin and iron levels, along with the increased CRP and high ferritin, were strongly associated with the heightened inflammatory and immune state in COVID-19. Transferrin can be used as a valuable predictor of increased severity and progression of the disease.
Keywords: Cytokine storm; Hyperferritinemia; IL-6; Serum iron; Transferrin; Transferrin saturation.
【저자키워드】 Cytokine storm, IL-6, Transferrin, Hyperferritinemia, Serum iron, Transferrin saturation., 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Cytokine storm, Biomarker, severe COVID-19, IL-6, severity, disease severity, Variation, C-reactive protein, CRP, ferritin, iron, cytokine, Symptom, progression, immune, interleukin 6, serum, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, interleukin, hyperinflammation, Transferrin, Mild, variations, association, marker, Hyperferritinemia, Evidence, Blood level, Inflammatory, IgM and IgG, test results, blood levels, two groups, significant increase, CRP levels, IgG levels, ferritin levels, symptom severity, positive test result, parameter, predicted, involved, the disease, can be used, hospitalized patient, increase in, two group, were measured, ferritin level, ill patient, Mounting, 【제목키워드】 Inflammation, Patient, predict, New,