The Role of Procalcitonin and Serum Amyloid a As a Laboratory Biomarker in COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Recent research demonstrates the critical impact that cytokine storm and intensive immune response against the virus play in worsening the severity and death of illness. Biomarkers such as Procalcitonin (PCT), Serum Amyloid A (SAA) play a part in the etiology of severe COVID-19 and may serve as an early indicator for severity. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the serum concentrations of these laboratory biomarkers (PCT and SAA) in asymptomatic, moderate, severe and critical COVID-19 patients and to compare them to healthy controls. Patients and methods: A total of 100 patients by positive RT-PCR COVID-19 results besides a control group of 46 healthy participants with negative RT-PCR results. Patients were classified as 4 groups; critical, severe, moderate, or asymptomatic, according to WHO standards. Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (ELISA) was used by (CV Human Reader HS REF 16670) to measure PCT and SAA. Results: Mean level of PCT is 404.59 pg/ml and SAA 19.1 pg/ml among patients more than controls (127.65 and 10.64, respectively). Mean levels were higher among both PCT and SAA in critical (680.84 and 28.46, respectively) and severe (565.86 and 23.27, respectively) of other than moderate (226.98 and 13.71, respectively) and asymptomatic (144.67 and 10.75, respectively). Conclusion: There was a major alteration in the level of PCT and SAA among patients groups (critical, severe, moderate, and asymptomatic) and control group. A strong correlation was found between biomarkers high concentrations, old age, and chronic diseases with the disease severity.