Blood Test for Combined Measurements of WBCs and Biomarkers Can Predict COVID-19 Severity
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 04 Oct 2021 |
|
Combined measurements of characteristics of white blood cells called granulocytes and well-known biomarkers in the blood of COVID-19 patients can predict the severity of the disease, according to a new study.
The study by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden) aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients with moderate or severe COVID-19. The findings which showed that COVID-19 disease severity seems to be affected by granulocytes, which are part of the innate immune system, could eventually contribute to more tailored treatments for COVID-19 patients.
Granulocytes are a family of white blood cells that include neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. They are part of the so-called innate immune system, which is the body’s first line of defence against pathogens. There are many studies on how SARS-CoV-2 affects various components of the immune system, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the role of granulocytes in COVID-19.
In the latest study, the researchers investigated the characteristics of granulocytes in the blood during the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a total of 26 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. They also performed follow-up analyses four months after hospital discharge and compared these with analyses of healthy uninfected individuals. The study found that combined measurements of granulocyte characteristics and widely used biomarkers in the blood called C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine, could predict key clinical features such as respiratory function and multi-organ failure.
“Our study shows significantly altered characteristics of all granulocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients and this can be linked to the severity of the disease,” said lead author Magda Lourda, who is a researcher at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, at Karolinska Institutet. “The finding needs to be taken with caution considering the limited size of our study cohort, but our hope is that these combined measurements can be used to predict the severity of the disease, resulting in more tailored treatments for COVID-19 patients.”
Related Links:
Karolinska Institutet
Latest COVID-19 News
- Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles
- World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China
- COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles
- Blood Viscosity Testing Can Predict Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- ‘Covid Computer’ Uses AI to Detect COVID-19 from Chest CT Scans
- MRI Lung-Imaging Technique Shows Cause of Long-COVID Symptoms
- Chest CT Scans of COVID-19 Patients Could Help Distinguish Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Specialized MRI Detects Lung Abnormalities in Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients
- AI Algorithm Identifies Hospitalized Patients at Highest Risk of Dying From COVID-19
- Sweat Sensor Detects Key Biomarkers That Provide Early Warning of COVID-19 and Flu
- Study Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Ventilation/Perfusion Scintigraphy
- CT Imaging Study Finds Vaccination Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Embolism
- Third Day in Hospital a ‘Tipping Point’ in Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
- Longer Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines Generates Up to Nine Times as Many Antibodies
- AI Model for Monitoring COVID-19 Predicts Mortality Within First 30 Days of Admission
- AI Predicts COVID Prognosis at Near-Expert Level Based Off CT Scans
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Critical Care
view channel
3D-Printed Delivery System Enhances Vaccine Delivery Via Microneedle Array Patch
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for efficient, durable, and widely accessible vaccines. Conventional vaccination requires trained personnel and cold-chain logistics, which can slow mass immunization... Read more
Whole-Heart Mapping Technology Provides Comprehensive Real-Time View of Arrhythmias
Cardiac arrhythmias can be difficult to diagnose and treat because current mapping systems analyze the heart one chamber at a time. This fragmented view forces clinicians to infer electrical activity they... Read more
Wearable Device for Diabetics Could Replace Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
Monitoring blood glucose is essential for people with diabetes to prevent complications and maintain long-term health. Current continuous glucose monitoring systems require needles inserted under the skin,... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
AI-Based OCT Image Analysis Identifies High-Risk Plaques in Coronary Arteries
Lipid-rich plaques inside coronary arteries are strongly associated with heart attacks and other major cardiac events. While optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides detailed images of vessel structure... Read moreNeural Device Regrows Surrounding Skull After Brain Implantation
Placing electronic implants on the brain typically requires removing a portion of the skull, creating challenges for long-term access and safe closure. Current methods often involve temporarily replacing the skull or securing metal plates, which can lead to complications such as skin erosion and additional surgeries.... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read more
VR Training Tool Combats Contamination of Portable Medical Equipment
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) impact one in every 31 patients, cause nearly 100,000 deaths each year, and cost USD 28.4 billion in direct medical expenses. Notably, up to 75% of these infections... Read more
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation offers patients with end-stage kidney disease longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis, yet graft failure remains a major challenge. Although a successful transplant... Read more
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Business
view channel
Medtronic to Acquire Coronary Artery Medtech Company CathWorks
Medtronic plc (Galway, Ireland) has announced that it will exercise its option to acquire CathWorks (Kfar Saba, Israel), a privately held medical device company, which aims to transform how coronary artery... Read more
Medtronic and Mindray Expand Strategic Partnership to Ambulatory Surgery Centers in the U.S.
Mindray North America and Medtronic have expanded their strategic partnership to bring integrated patient monitoring solutions to ambulatory surgery centers across the United States. The collaboration... Read more
FDA Clearance Expands Robotic Options for Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death, with nearly 18 million fatalities each year, and more than two million patients undergo open-heart surgery annually, most involving sternotomy.... Read more