AUSTERITY OF COVID-19 BY CHEST COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY SCORES AND INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Coronaviruses are important human and animal pathogens. At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus was identied as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inammatory biomarkers and chest computerized tomography(CT) scores play a critical role in the progression of COVID-19. CT showing ground glass opacities (GGO) and consolidations serves as an important and effective method for the diagnosis and evaluation of severity of COVID-19. Analysis of chest computerized tomography scores wi AIM: th inammatory biomarkers in COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS & METHODS:136 laboratory conrmed cases of COVID–19 subjected to nucleic acid amplication tests such as reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were enrolled. They are divided into severe and non-severe groups. CT scanner (Toshiba Aquilion Prime 160; Toshiba medical systems, Japan) was used for examining all patients. Various semi quantitative and qualitative methods were used for biomarker assessment. RESULTS: Biomarker results mean ± SD were statistically signicant between severe and non-severe for all biomarker parameters. CT scores and biomarkers were statistically signicant for severe group of COVID19.CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of biomarkers like D dimer, CRP, LDH, ferritin and IL-6 along with total CT severity scores are independent risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19, which may be a core tool for early identication of severe cases and eventually reducing the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19