Can ferritin/lymphocyte percentage ratio, a new indicator, predict the clinical course of COVID-19 cases?

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 maintains its seriousness as a global emergency with its rapid distribution worldwide. Ferritin/lymphocyte percentage ratio (FLPR) may appear as a prognostic value at the initial evaluation stage and thus can be used as a simple, effective and reliable parameter in identification of patients critically ill with COVID-19. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study we evaluated patients who were hospitalized after being diagnosed with COVID-19 based on positive PCR results. We calculated FLPRs and classified disease severity due to initial emergency evaluation. The relationship between the severity of the need for hospitalization and intensive care, and 28-day mortality with FLPR were evaluated. RESULTS: The differences between the groups as for COVID-19 severity and FLPR means were statistically significant (x2=148.284; SD=3; p=0.000). FLPR levels were found to be high in groups with critically and seriously ill patients. In the ROC analysis for the FLPR level, the area under the curve (AUC) value was found to be 0.909 (95 % CI 0.857-0.961). When the cut­off value of FLPR was 21.11, the sensitivity and specificity were 82.9 % and 82.8 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: FLPR, a new parameter, can be used as a significant marker to predict the 28-day mortality patients (Tab. 6, Fig. 1, Ref. 25). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: COVID-19, percentage of lymphocytes, ferritin, FLPR, disease severity, emergency department.

Lymphocyte/mean platelet volume ratio, a new marker; is it effective in predicting the prognosis of COVID-19 cases?

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prognostic significance of the lymphocyte/mean platelet volume ratio (LMR) in terms of the clinical course of the disease in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Patients over 18 who were evaluated for COVID-19 during the period from April 1, to April 30, 2020 were retrospectively scanned. Patients with at least 1 positive PCR test result were as assigned to Group 1 while patients with negative test results were assigned to Group 2. The LMR ratio was calculated by dividing the lymphocyte value by that of MPV. The relationship between LMR, severity of patients' CT findings and 28-day mortality was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 938 patients were included in the study. It was observed that the lymphocyte and LMR levels were significantly different in those who died within 28 days (p < 0.001, p ≤ 0.001). In the ROC analysis for the LMR level, the area under the curve (AUC) was found to be 0.737 (95% CI 0.639‒0.834). When the cut­off value of LMR was 0.045, the sensitivity was found to be 99.0 % and specificity was 15.2 %. CONCLUSION: LMR can be a guide in multiple cases of care provided to critical patients, as is the case in the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used in recognizing critical patients (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 21).

An Investigation of the COMT Gene Val158Met Polymorphism in Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department Because of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use.

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzyme has a role in the inactivation of catecholamine neurotransmitters. Functional polymorphism in the COMT gene has been reported to play an important role in schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, aggressive and antisocial behavior, suicide attempts and the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the Vall58Met polymorphism of the COMT gene on substance use, and treatment history in patients with synthetic cannabinoid (SC) intoxication. The COMT enzyme Val158Met polymorphisms from DNA of 49 patients who were evaluated in the Emergency Department after SC use and 50 healthy control groups aged 18-45 years, were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses as reported in the literature. Information regarding recurrent intake or hospitalization due to substance use was obtained from hospital records. Wild-type (WT) genotypes in 14 (28.6%) patients, heterozygous genotypes in 25 (51.0%) and homozygous genotypes in 10 (20.4%) patients were detected. Wild-type genotypes The homozygous genotype was found to be significantly higher in patients hospitalized due to drug addiction and substance use (p 0.008). The Vall58 Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was not found to be significant in the first use after substance intake, while a significant relationship was found in terms of this polymorphism in patients with substance addiction diagnosis and treatment history.