Changes in the cytokine profi le in patients during COVID-19 infection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/AMB-2023-0036Keywords:
COVID-19, cytokines, hyperinfl ammation, dysregulation, biomarkers, severityAbstract
COVID-19 has proven to be a disease that aff ects not only the respiratory tract but also leads to a state of generalized systemic hyperinfl ammation and overall immune dysregulation. An important role in its pathogenesis is the disturbance of many cytokines – a condition which, in its most pronounced form, is also called a „cytokine storm“.
Objective: To evaluate the serum cytokine levels during COVID-19 infection as potential biomarkers for the severity and course of infection. Materials and methods: By design, the study is a retrospective cross-sectional, in which the serum concentrations of 10 pro- and anti-infl ammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and GM-CSF) were investigated in 36 individuals (divided into 3 groups by severity – with a mild form of the infection/presymptomatic, moderately severe and severe/critical) within two periods – before and after the second week from the onset of symptoms of the disease.
Results: In the period up to the 2nd week, the serum concentrations of IFN-γ (p = 0.029), IL-1β (p = 0.017), and IL-5 (p = 0.014) showed a statistically signifi cant correlation with the disease severity, however in the later stage of the disease the cytokine levels did not show any clinical value.
Conclusion: Cytokine testing could be used to predict the severity of COVID-19 infection which could support individual therapeutic decisions. Analysis of a larger group of patients is needed to unfold the full potential of such testing.
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Journal Acta Medica Bulgarica 
