γ′ fibrinogen levels as a biomarker of COVID-19 respiratory disease severity
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases
Volume
101
PubMed ID
37150704
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a pro-inflammatory state associated with organ failure, thrombosis, and death. We investigated a novel inflammatory biomarker, γ′ fibrinogen (GPF), in 103 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and 19 healthy controls. We found significant associations between GPF levels and the severity of COVID-19 as judged by blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). The mean level of GPF in the patients with COVID-19 was significantly higher than in controls (69.8 (95 % CI 64.8–74.8) mg/dL compared with 36.9 (95 % CI 31.4–42.4) mg/dL, p < 0.0001), whereas C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total fibrinogen levels were not significantly different between groups. Mean GPF levels were significantly highest in patients with severe COVID-19 (SpO2 ≤ 93 %, GPF 75.2 (95 % CI 68.7–81.8) mg/dL), compared to mild/moderate COVID-19 (SpO2 > 93 %, GPF 62.5 (95 % CI 55.0–70.0) mg/dL, p = 0.01, AUC of 0.68, 95 % CI 0.57–0.78; Youden's index cutpoint 62.9 mg/dL, sensitivity 0.64, specificity 0.63). In contrast, CRP, interleukin-6, ferritin, LDH, D-dimers, and total fibrinogen had weaker associations with COVID-19 disease severity (all ROC curves with lower AUCs). Thus, GPF may be a useful inflammatory marker of COVID-19 respiratory disease severity.
DOI
10.1016/j.bcmd.2023.102746
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Kornblith, L. Z., Sadhanandhan, B., Arun, S., Long, R., Johnson, A. J., Noll, J., ... & Farrell, D. H. (2023). γ′ fibrinogen levels as a biomarker of COVID-19 respiratory disease severity. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases, 101, article 102746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcmd.2023.102746