Ventilatory support and inflammatory peptides in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: A prospective cohort trial

PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can induce a massive release of cytokines which contributes to disease severity and mortality. Therefore, cytokine levels in the serum may help to predict disease severity and survival in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this prospective trial, 88 patients who were hospitalised for COVID-19 were enrolled. Blood samples for serum peptide measurements were taken at the time closest to hospitalisation, at day 5, 9 and 13 (±1). The concentrations of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-6, L-7, L-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α), chemokines (CCL-3, CCL-4 and CCL-7) and growth factors (G-CSF, GM-CSF and VEGF) were assessed and correlated with the type of ventilation, occurrence of consolidations on imaging and the level of care. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients (median age 68 years, IQR 55–77) stayed in hospital between 5–171 days. Compared to patients in the general care unit, patients in the intermediate care unit (IMCU) and intensive care unit (ICU) presented significantly elevated serum IL-6 (p = 0.004) and lower IFN-γ levels (p = 0.005), respectively. The peak inspiratory pressure in ventilated patients correlated positively with IL-1RA, G-CSF and inversely with IFN-γ serum levels (all p<0.05). VEGF serum levels inversely correlated with the fraction of inspired oxygen in patients receiving high-flow nasal canula oxygen therapy (p = 0.047). No significant correlation between serum concentrations of the measured peptides and the type of ventilation, occurrence of radiological consolidations or in-hospital mortality has been observed. CONCLUSION: IL1-RA, IL-6, IFN-γ, G-CSF, CCL-7 and VEGF serum levels could prove helpful as biomarkers to assess disease severity and the need for intensive care in COVID-19 patients.