ABSTRACT
Introduction: In the SARS COV2 pneumonia acute-phase reactants, such as ferritin levels (FL), are elevated due to cytokine storm and hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis. No direct relation between radiographic pulmonary involvement and blood levels of ferritin has been proved. In this study we try to identify this relation. Material(s) and Method(s): We carried on a descriptive retrospective matched cohort study of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 07/01/20 to 12/31/20 who were reviewed in PostCOVID consult. For quantifying the severity of pneumonia, a score was calculated by adapting and simplifying the Radiographic Evaluation of Pulmonary Edema (RALE) scale proposed by Warren et al (2018). We chose more severe X-rays at diagnosis and the FL at that time and at 6 weeks. Statistical studies were performed with SPSS (v25). Result(s): The analysed sample was 130 patients (70 men) with average age 62yrs. The 96% required hospitalization. FL at diagnosis were high, in men 1.080mug/l (IQR=1.036) and in women 629mug/l (IQR=816), p=0.003. No significant differences were found when analysing by age groups (<54, 55-75 and >75yrs). When we compared FL and severity of Xr affectation with SCORE RALE (SR) at diagnosis, we obtained p=0.007 for mild-severe comparison. No other comparisons with statistical significance were obtained. The median of FL at review normalized regardless of the initial SR (global decrease 66%), with no differences observed between groups. Conclusion(s): - The patients in our study had high FL at diagnosis, being higher in men, and were normalized at control. - Patients with severe radiographic affectation had higher median of ferritin at diagnosis compared to the ones with mild affectation.