The multifunctional role of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in lung diseases is well established. As the lungs are greatly affected in COVID-19, we evaluated serum NSE levels in COVID-19 patients with and without dyspnea. In this study, we evaluated both SARS-CoV-2-infected and uninfected patients aged >18 years who were referred to hospitals in Catanzaro, Italy from March 30 to July 30, 2020. Epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics, treatment, and outcome data were recorded and reviewed by a trained team of physicians. In total, 323 patients (178 men, 55.1% and 145 women, 44.9%) were enrolled; of these, 128 were COVID-19 patients (39.6%) and 195 were control patients (60.4%). Westergren’s method was used to determine erythroid sedimentation rate. A chemiluminescence assay was used for measurement of interleukin-6, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and NSE. We detected significantly higher NSE values (P<0.05) in COVID-19 patients than in controls. Interestingly, within the COVID-19 group, we also observed a further significant increase in dyspnea (Dyspnea Scale and Exercise score: 8.2 ± 0.8; scores ranging from 0 to 10, with higher numbers indicating very severe shortness of breath). These data provide the background for further investigations into the potential role of NSE as a clinical marker of COVID-19 progression.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Treatment, exercise, hospital, interleukin-6, lung, Lung disease, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, outcome, Italy, serum, interleukin, Characteristics, Lungs, Dyspnea, Lung diseases, Patient, Physicians, women, scale, chemiluminescence, COVID-19 patients, marker, COVID-19 patient, referred to, Neuron-specific enolase, Shortness of breath, COVID-19 progression, sedimentation rate, significant increase, These data, control patients, COVID-19 group, uninfected, men, controls, radiological, affected, was used, evaluated, determine, significantly higher, multifunctional, were recorded, control patient, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, severity, Lung injury, Serum level,