Effect of IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8, IP-10/CXCL 10 levels on the severity in COVID 19 infection

Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Dec;75(12):e14970. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14970. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Abstract

Background: COVID 19 was first observed in December 2019 and has affected the world entire. Effective laboratory markers and prognostic indicators are needed to predict the clinical progression of the disease.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate IL6, IL8/CXCL8, and IP10/CXCL10, and biochemical parameters associated with SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 infections and their significance on prognosis in healthy volunteers and mild-moderate and severe COVID 19 patients.

Methods: Healthy volunteers (n = 30), and patients with mild-moderate (n = 30) and severe (n = 30) COVID-19 patients were included in the study. IL-6, IL-8, and IP-10 levels and biochemical parameters were assessed among the groups and their correlations with each other were subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: Blood serum IL-6, IL-8, and IP-10 levels were the highest in the severe patient group (P = .001), and also higher in the mild-moderate group as compared with the healthy volunteers (P = .001). Statistically significant positive correlations were identified between serum IL-8 and IL-6 levels (P = .001, r = 0.660), between serum IP-10 and IL-6 (P = .001, r = 0.599) and between serum IP-10 and IL-8 (P = .001, r = 0.729).

Conclusions: A statistically significant difference was found in WBC, NE%, NE, LY%, LY, HB, BUN, total protein, albumin, d-dimer, sedimentation differed significantly between the groups. Biomarkers of potential significance in terms of the severity of COVID 19 disease were examined, and high IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, CRP, PCT, and LY parameters values emerged as associated with the severity of the disease.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • COVID-19*
  • Chemokine CXCL10*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6*
  • Interleukin-8*
  • Prognosis
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CXCL10 protein, human
  • CXCL8 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL10
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-8