HEMATOLOGY, C-REACT IVE PROTE IN AND PROCA LCITON IN IN COV ID-19 PAT IENTS AND HISTOR ICA L PNeUMONIA GROUP

Abstract

Introduction: Laboratory test play an essential role in the early detection and diagnosis in an Emergency Department. Laboratory tests are common w COVID-19, however, they are also encountered in diseases with similar presentation as COVID-19 but other etiopathogeneses. The aim: To compare morphology, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein in patients admitted with the diagnosis of COVID-19 to the Infectious Hospital to the patients with the discharge diagnosis of pneumonia admitted to the Emergency Department in January and February 2019. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 46 COVID-19 patients (60.9% male) aged 63.3±15.3 and 48 pneumonia patients (56.3% male) aged 75.0±13.7. The COVID-19 patients were admitted to the Infectious Department of Boleslawiec County Hospital or were discharged from the Emergency Departments to the Infectious Departments. The age, gender, leucocyte count, lymphocyte count and percentage, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, platelets number, procalcitonin level and c-reactive protein were retrieved from medical electronic records. Results: The hematology tests did not reveal significant differences in lymphocyte count and percentage, however the white cells number was significantly higher in pneumonia than in COVID-19 group. C-reactive protein did not differ between groups. There was a trend to the higher level of procalcitonin in pneumonia group and hemoglobin level in COVID-19 group. Mean corpuscular volume and leucocyte number were significantly higher in the pneumonia group. Conclusions: 1. Lower leucocyte number and lower mean corpuscular volume of erytrocyte in COVID-19 patients than in pneumonia patients may reflect differences in the reaction of the host to infectious factors or indicate predisposing factors to COVID-19 infection. 2. Further studies are indicated to confirm and explain obtained results.