COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome: Lessons from TNFRI and CRP about the Risk of Death in Severe Disease

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 is responsible for irreversible tissue damage and death. Soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily, their correlation with clinical outcome, and the use of TNF receptors as a potent predictor for clinical outcome were evaluated. Methods: Severe COVID-19 patients had the levels of soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily quantified and categorized according to the clinical outcome (death versus survival). Statistical modeling was performed to predict clinical outcomes. Results: COVID-19 patients have elevated serum levels from the TNF superfamily. Regardless of sex and age, the sTNFRI levels were observed to be significantly higher in deceased patients from the first weeks following the onset of symptoms. We analyzed hematological parameters and inflammatory markers, and there was a difference between the groups for the following factors: erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes, neutrophils, band cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, CRP, IL-8, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2, leptin MIF sCD40L, and sTNFRI (p p Conclusions: The joint use of the sTNFRI/sTNFRII ratio with CRP proves to be a promising tool to assist in the clinical management of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• <i>SARS-CoV-2</i>
• clinical outcomes predictor
• inflammatory mediators
• TNF superfamily
• TNF receptors