VPB0616 - Interleukins that are mostly affected in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Background: One of the major reasons people are severely affected by COVID-19 is because of the combination of inflammation and thrombosis that they are subjected to. COVID-19 is a disorder where thrombosis and inflammation play an essential role in the pathogenesis. Several predictive interleukin markers for COVID-19 have been identified since its discovery These inflammatory markers include ( IL-1-alpha and -beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha). The aim of this study was to determine the interleukin/s that are mostly affected by COVID-19 in order to make recommendation on cost-effective interleukin testing of COVID-19 patients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the interleukin/s that are mostly affected by COVID-19 in order to make recommendation on cost-effective interleukin testing of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We recruited 73 patients admitted with PCR confirmed severe COVID-19 in the COVID-19 wards at the COVID Unit of Universitas Hospitals in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The survival rate of these patients were 36%. Before testing, frozen citrated plasma samples were thawed at 37°C and assayed within 4 hours. The cytokine profile (IL-1-alpha and -beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF–alpha), were measured with enzyme assay kits from Biolegend (USA).

Results: IL-10 levels were increased in all severe COVID-19 patients. Only 40% of patients present with increased IL-6 and IL-1 beta levels. IL-8 levels were increase in only 14% of patients, while only 1% of patients presented with increased IL-1-alpha and 4% with increased TNF-alpha levels. There were no correlation between increased cytokine levels and survival in the patients.

Conclusion(s): We recommend the use of only IL-10 as a marker for severe COVID-19.