Viral load and its relationship with the inflammatory response and clinical outcomes in hospitalization of patients with COVID-19

Mauricio Kuri-Ayache, Andrea Rivera-Cavazos, María Fátima Pérez-Castillo, Juan Enrique Santos-Macías, Arnulfo González-Cantú, José Antonio Luviano-García, Diego Jaime-Villalón, Dalia Gutierrez-González, Maria Elena Romero-Ibarguengoitia*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The values of viral load in COVID-19 disease have gained relevance, seeking to understand its prognostic value and its behavior in the course of the disease, although there have been no conclusive results. In this study we sought to analyze serum viral load as a predictor of clinical outcome of the disease, as well as its association with inflammatory markers. Methods: An observational and retrospective study in a private hospital in North Mexico, patients with SARS-COV-2 infection confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were followed through clinical outcome, viral load measurement, quantification of inflammatory markers and lymphocyte subpopulations. For the analysis, multiple regression models were performed. Results: We studied 105 patients [47 (SD 1.46) years old, 68.6% men]. After analysis with multiple regression models, there was an association between viral load at admission and vaccination schedule (β-value=-0.279, p= 0.007), age (β-value= 0.010, p = 0.050), mechanical ventilation (β-value= 0.872, p = 0.007), lactate dehydrogenase (β-value= 1.712, p= 0.004), D-dimer values at admission (β-value= 0.847, p= 0.013) and subpopulation of B lymphocytes at admission (β-value= -0.527, p= 0.042). There was no association with days of hospitalization, use of nasal prongs or high flux mask. Peak viral load (10 days after symptoms onset) was associated with peak IL-6 (β-value= 0.470, p= 0.011). Peak viral load matched with peak procalcitonin and minimal lymphocyte values. C-reactive protein peak was before the peak of viral load. The minimum value viral load was documented on day 12 after symptom onset; it matched with the minimum values of IL-6 and ferritin, and the peak of D-dimer. Conclusions: SARS-COV-2 admission viral load is associated with vaccination status, mechanical ventilation, and different inflammatory markers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1060840
Pages (from-to)1060840
JournalFrontiers in Immunology
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Kuri-Ayache, Rivera-Cavazos, Pérez-Castillo, Santos-Macías, González-Cantú, Luviano-García, Jaime-Villalón, Gutierrez-González and Romero-Ibarguengoitia.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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