Role of C-reactive protein, serum ferritin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase in hospitalized coronavirus disease-19 infected patients - A study in tertiary care coronavirus disease-19 center in Eastern India

Few studies have also shown that CRP, LDH, and ferritin[6] levels are increased and albumin[7] level decreased in COVID-19 patients and correlate with severity and therefore help in modifying treatment protocol. [...]this study is done to assess the role of CRP, ferritin, albumin, and LDH in moderate-to-severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 symptoms caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 may vary from mild-to-moderate to severe with morbidity and mortality and presentation may include fever,[8] pneumonia,[9] cytokine release syndrome,[10] Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation[1112] and sepsis and therefore the role of biomarkers such as CRP and serum ferritin, LDH, and albumin cannot be overemphasized as they may help in starting early treatment and preventing mortality. Limitations of the study were that it was a single center small study done only on moderate-to-severe COVID infected patients. [...]it should be validated by multicenter study on a larger sample size including those with asymptomatic or mild disease also. CONCLUSION In our study, we concluded CRP, ferritin, along with LDH is elevated in moderate-to-severe cases and albumin acts as a negative acute phase reactant and they may predict progression of disease in COVID-19 patients. [...]these laboratory tests may be useful for guiding risk assessment and clinical decision-making.