Procalcitonin as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with COVID-19 in Southwestern Iran

There is increasing evidence supporting a central role of the viral-induced hyper-inflammatory immune response in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is an emerging prognostic marker in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum procalcitonin and clinical severity and outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in patients with COVID-19 infection from February to April 2020 at Hajar Hospital in the Shahrekord University of Medical Science, Shahrekord, Iran.

The results showed that total lymphocyte counts, albumin, calcium, and creatinine levels were significantly different between the two moderate and severe groups, and the mean of procalcitonin level in COVID-19 patients with severe disease was higher (0.36 ng/mL) compared with the patients with moderate disease, and its level was found to be >5 ng/mL in 14.2% of5 ng/mL in 14.2% of patients in the former group.

PCT may be a marker of disease severity in COVID-19 and may contribute to determining the severity of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, serial PCT measurements may be beneficial in predicting the prognosis.