The significance of a novel inflammatory biomarker, presepsin, in predicting disease prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims at determining the significance of a novel inflammatory biomarker, presepsin, in predicting disease prognosis in patients with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was concluded at the University Hospital between April and August 2020. The study involved 88 COVID-19 patients (48 men and 40 women). The patients were categorized into two groups: the patients admitted to the COVID-19 clinic, described as the moderate COVID-19 patients (Group-1; n=44), and those admitted to the internal medicine outpatient clinic, who were the mild COVID-19 patients (Group-2; n=44). The groups were compared using inflammatory markers: presepsin, C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio, Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, and procalcitonin. RESULTS: Serum presepsin levels (195.29 vs. 52.12 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the Group-1 compared to the Group-2 (p=0.001). The gender distribution and average age were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). While ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, D-Dimer, platelet lymphocyte ratio, C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio (p=0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation ratio, C-Reactive Protein and presepsin were significantly higher in the Group-1 compared to Group-2 (p<0.05), while hemoglobin and lymphocyte were significantly lower in the Group-1 than in Group-2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum presepsin levels were found to be significantly higher in moderate clinical group COVID-19 patients compared to mild group. Presepsin, a new inflammatory biomarker, may be useful in predicting the prognosis and early treatment of COVID-19 infection.

The role of neutrophil albumin ratio in predicting the stage of non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation forms the basis of cancer development and progression. It causes changes in complete blood count parameters, such as neutrophil counts. Low albumin levels are associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. We aimed to investigate the association between neutrophil to albumin ratio (NAR) and the stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 257 NSCLC patients (24 females and 198 males) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=61) included patients with early stage cancer (stage 1 and 2), while group 2  (n=196) included those with advanced stage cancer (stage 3 and 4). Demographic data, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, white blood cell counts (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin and albumin levels at the time of diagnosis were recorded. The NAR of 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the lymphocyte count (2.0 vs. 2.0 103/mm3) and platelet count (291 vs. 311 103/mm3) of the two groups (p > 0.05). ESR (38.8 vs. 57.5 mm/h), CRP (158 vs. 57 mg/l), ferritin (85 vs. 261 ng/ml), WBC count (8.6 vs. 10.6 103/mm3), neutrophil count (5.6 vs. 7.5 103/mm3), albumin values (2.9 vs. 3.7 gr/dl), and (p < 0.05) NAR levels (1.6 vs. 2.3) (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: NAR can be used in predicting the stage of NSCLC.