PREDICTIVE POWER OF IL-6, FERRITIN, AND COAGULATION FACTORS FOR COVID-19 SEVERITY: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
Background: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 ignited the global COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented health crisis. Amid this turmoil, interleukin-6 (IL-6), a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, along with ferritin and coagulation factors, have become focal points of extensive research. These biomarkers have garnered significant attention due to their suspected involvement in determining the severity of COVID-19. Understanding their roles and interactions within the complex pathophysiology of the disease is critical for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to mitigate the devastating impact of the virus on global health systems and populations. Materials and Methods: A group of COVID-19 patients was recruited, and their IL-6 levels, ferritin and D-dimer were followed during the entire course of the disease. The clinical outcomes were divided into multiple severity categories, ranging from moderate symptoms to severe instances including respiratory failure, septic shock, or multi-organ failure. Statistical analyses were conducted, with adjustments for variables like age, to mitigate potential biases in the study's findings. Results: A correlation between elevated IL-6, high serum ferritin levels and D-dimer levels were observed with clinical deterioration of the patients. Elevated IL-6 levels were frequently reported in individuals with more severe illness presentations, particularly those experiencing respiratory distress and organ failure. The longitudinal design allowed us to examine dynamic variations in IL-6 levels over time, further establishing the relationship between IL-6 and illness development. Conclusions: This study found no significant correlation between elevated IL-6 levels and other biomarkers in COVID-19 patients but highlighted IL-6's role as an independent predictor of disease progression. This underscores its value in risk assessment and suggests IL-6 pathway targeting as a potential treatment avenue, though further research is needed for validation and mechanistic insights.
COVID-19, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Disease Severity, Prognostic Biomarker, Ferritin, D-dimer.
COVID-19, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Disease Severity, Prognostic Biomarker, Ferritin, D-dimer.