Prognostic value of static and dynamic biomarkers in COVID-19 patients: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze in a prospective cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients the relationship between biomarkers levels and their variation within the first 4 days since admission, and prognosis.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study. Individuals with confirmed diagnosis of covid-19 admitted in our hospital were included. Blood samples were obtained systematically on days 1 and 4 of hospitalization. Levels of RCP, LDH, Ferritin and D-dimer, together with platelets, lymphocytes and neutrophils counts were measured. A combined outcome that included ICU admission and death was considered the primary outcome. Logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

We included 335 patients with confirmed COVID-19. During their hospitalization, 23 (6.8%) needed ICU admission, and 10 (2.9%) died. In the multivariate analysis, a value of RCP greater than 10 mg/dl (OR 8.69, CI95% 1.45-52), an increase in RCP greater than 20% (OR 26.08, CI 95% 3.21-211.3), an increase in LDH greater than 20% (OR 6.29, CI 95% 1.84-21.44), a count of lymphocytes lower than 1500/mm3 (OR 2.74, CI 95% 1.04-7.23), a D-dimer value greater than 550 ng/ml (OR 9.8, CI 95% 1.78-53.9) and a neutrophil/lymphocyte index greater than 3(OR 4.5, CI 95% 1.43-14.19) were all associated with the primary outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the utilization of static and dynamic biomarkers may represent an important tool to assess prognosis of COVID-19 patients.

A reversible bilateral renal artery stenosis in association with antiphospholipid syndrome

We describe a 26-year-old white female with a history of Raynaud phenomenon, erythema nodosum, polyarthralgias, migraine, vertigo, seizures, transient ischemic attacks, one fetal loss, and false positive VDRL, who developed milk hypertension without overt lupus nephritis. She had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) antibodies. The lupus anticoagulant test (LAC) and cardiolipins antibodies (aCL) were positive. She was diagnosed as having a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-like illness (SLE-like) with 'secondary' antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Renal spiral computed tomography (CT) with intravenous (IV) contrast showed bilateral renal artery stenosis. Anticoagulation with acenocumarol was started. She became normotensive without antihypertensive drugs five months later. A follow-up renal spiral CT showed complete recanalization of both renal arteries, making thrombosis the more likely culprit pathology in the stenosis. After two years follow up the patient is normotensive. She remains on acenocumarol.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]

We report a case of a 35 year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who, under treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, developed bilateral interstitial pulmonary disease. Previously she had been splenectomized and treated with corticosteroids and cyclosporin. During the clinical course, the patient developed alterations of the hepatogram and presented a positive serology for Epstein-Barr virus. The lung biopsy showed the histologic pattern of obliterative bronchiolitis, interstitial inflammatory infiltration and intraalveolar pneumonia (BOOP). We could not find in the literature a previous report in which ITP was associated with BOOP. Of interest was the spontaneous remission of the pulmonary disease after suppression of cyclosporin and positive serology for Epstein-Barr virus.