International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Sep 2022)

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, interferon gamma-induced protein 10, and C-reactive protein in predicting the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection: a prospective cohort study

  • Sina A. Tegethoff,
  • Guy Danziger,
  • Dennis Kühn,
  • Charlotte Kimmer,
  • Thomas Adams,
  • Lena Heintz,
  • Carlos Metz,
  • Katharina Reifenrath,
  • Rebecca Angresius,
  • Sebastian Mang,
  • Torben Rixecker,
  • André Becker,
  • Jürgen Geisel,
  • Christophe Jentgen,
  • Frederik Seiler,
  • Matthias C. Reichert,
  • Franziska Fröhlich,
  • Sascha Meyer,
  • Jürgen Rissland,
  • Sebastian Ewen,
  • Gudrun Wagenpfeil,
  • Katharina Last,
  • Sigrun Smola,
  • Robert Bals,
  • Frank Lammert,
  • Sören L. Becker,
  • Marcin Krawczyk,
  • Philipp M. Lepper,
  • Cihan Papan

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 122
pp. 178 – 187

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: Background: Early prognostication of COVID-19 severity will potentially improve patient care. Biomarkers, such as TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP), might represent possible tools for point-of-care testing and severity prediction. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed serum levels of TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP in patients with COVID-19, compared them with control subjects, and investigated the association with disease severity. Results: A total of 899 measurements were performed in 132 patients (mean age 64 years, 40.2% females). Among patients with COVID-19, TRAIL levels were lower (49.5 vs 87 pg/ml, P = 0.0142), whereas IP-10 and CRP showed higher levels (667.5 vs 127 pg/ml, P <0.001; 75.3 vs 1.6 mg/l, P <0.001) than healthy controls. TRAIL yielded an inverse correlation with length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, and National Early Warning Score, and IP-10 showed a positive correlation with disease severity. Multivariable regression revealed that obesity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.434, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.005-29.38), CRP (aOR 1.014, 95% CI 1.002-1.027), and peak IP-10 (aOR 1.001, 95% CI 1.00-1.002) were independent predictors of in-ICU mortality. Conclusions: We demonstrated a correlation between COVID-19 severity and TRAIL, IP-10, and CRP. Multivariable regression showed a role for IP-10 in predicting unfavourable outcomes, such as in-ICU mortality. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04655521

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