Abstract
Introduction: The pathophysiology of COVID-19 is still not fully understood, but is considered to be the result of strong production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and imbalance of the coagulation process. Based on this, we aimed to examine the significance of monitoring the leukocyte formula and the available inflammation parameters in COVID-19 patients. Methods: The study included 100 patients divided into two groups: with moderate and severe disease. The counts of leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the values of C-reactive protein, ferritin and D-dimer were monitored on the first, seventh and fourteenth day of hospitalization, as well as the initial values of IL-6. The data were statistically processed with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results: The leukocytes and neutrophils counts change statistically significantly during the follow-up period and differ between the studied groups. CRP and D-dimer values decrease statistically significantly during the follow-up period. The NLR on the seventh day, the values of ferritin and D-dimer after the seventh day of hospitalization, as well as the initial values of IL-6, are statistically significantly higher in patients presenting severe disease. An increase in the number of leukocytes above 12.25x109 /L and NLR above 7.08 on the seventh day of hospitalization, as well as initial IL-6 values above 40.75 pg/ml are predictors of disease severity. Conclusion: The leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes counts, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, as well as the values of D-dimer and ferritin on the seventh day of hospitalization are statistically significantly different in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. The mentioned parameters, along with the initial values of IL-6, can be used as predictors of the disease severity in COVID-19
Published Version
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