Iran COVID-19 Immunological Study:  Remarkable Level of Interleukin-6 in Iranian COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

Background: Researchers have already reported a high level of interleukin (IL)-6 in patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we investigated the surge of IL-6 level and its association with the critical health factors in these patients. Methods: The study sample comprised 111 confirmed hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 and 70 healthy volunteer individuals. Routine laboratory examinations, including hematology, biochemistry, and hormone analysis, as well as IL-6 level measurement, were conducted. Findings: IL-6 levels were significantly high in hospitalized patients compared with healthy individuals (P < 0.001). The IL-6 level was approximately ten-fold of the normal range in 23.7% of the patients and more than 50% of them signify IL-6 over three-fold of normal range. The levels of BS, LDL, VLDL, ALP, TSH, CRP, platelets, neutrophils, and monocytes were significantly different between patients with diverse levels of IL-6. The values of triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, red blood cells and platelets showed an indirect linear trend and the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine phosphokinase, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and CRP demonstrated a direct linear trend with elevating rate of IL-6. Furthermore, IL-6 levels had a significant and direct correlation with troponin I, CRP, ferritin and pro-calcitonin while it had a significant and indirect correlation with VLDL.Interpretation: A hazardous level of IL-6 probably threatening the critical health factors and has a crucial role in immune-mediated acute lung injury in CIOVID-19 patients. Funding Statement: Immunoregulation Research Center of Shahed University Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Training of Iran. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflicting of interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the National Ethics Committee on Research in Medical Sciences affiliated to the Iranian Ministry of Health (Ethical Code: IR.NIMAD.REC.1398.411).