ABSTRACT
Objective: To represent the effects of the severity of COVID-19 infection on platelet large cell ratio (PLC-R). Materials and Methods: A hundred eleven patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in this study. Positive results for SARS-CoV-2 based on a typical RT-PCR test performed on nasopharyngeal swabs were included in the study Groups. Patients with COVID-19 were divided into three Groups according to their chest CT features. Group 1 (45 patients) was defined as mild, Group 2 (34 patients) as moderate and Group 3 (32 patients) as severe. Complete blood count parameters including platelet volume indices (PVI) values, CRP, D-dimer and lipid profiles were analyzed in all study participants. The correlation between COVID-19 patient Groups and PLC-R values were demonstrated using SPSS and ANFC methods. Results: The significant impact of our study is that PLC-R was significantly higher in the severe COVID-19 patients than the moderate and mild patients. Spearman's rho correlation analysis showed that PLC-R and WBC levels increased, and Htc and Hb levels decreased with the severity of the disease. ROC analysis showed that PLC-R > 38.3% had 59.4% sensitivity and 68.4% specificity in predicting severe COVID-19 disease (AUC 0.672, %95 CI 0.560, 0.784;p=0.005, cut off=38.3). CRP, ferritin and D-dimer values of the patients in Group 3 were significantly higher than the patients in Group 1, and the iron values of the patients in Group 3 were significantly lower than the patients in Group 1. Conclusion: PLC-R values are useful for anticipating acute thrombotic events. Based on the results of our study, PLC-R values can be used as appropriate biomarkers to describe the severity of COVID-19 infection.
ABSTRACT
In this study, the purpose was to investigate the demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases that were treated in our hospital during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It was also investigated whether the patients hospitalized with a provisional diagnosis of CCHF who tested negative for CCHF PCR were infected with COVID-19. In our study, data (epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, prognosis) from 38 patients diagnosed with CCHF through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and viral-RNA and/or Immunoglobulin M antibodies using ELISA between May 2020 and November 2022 were investigated retrospectively. Of all the patients, 23 were CCHF PCR (+) and 15 were CCHF PCR (-).15 (65.2%) of PCR (+) patients and 9 (60%) of PCR (-) patients were engaged in farming. 65.2% of PCR (+) and 26.7% of PCR (-) patients presented with a history of tick bites. 21 (91.3%) of PCR (+) and 12 (80%) of PCR (-) patients had a history of rural living. Among the PCR (+) patients, 65.2%, 17.4%, and 17.4% received treatment for CCHF in 2022, 2021, and 2020 respectively. 87% of PCR (+) and 60% of PCR (-) patients were discharged after full recovery. The most common symptoms were fever, diffuse body ache, weakness, and headache. Significant differences were found between PCR (+) and PCR (-) patients in terms of leukocytes, LDH, INR, NEU, PLT, fibrinogen, and NLR values. 3 patients hospitalized with a provisional diagnosis of CCHF tested negative for CCHF PCR and positive for COVID-19 PCR. Thoracic CT, clinical, and laboratory findings of these patients showed no differences from the other patients. The possibility of misdiagnosis should be considered in CCHF and COVID-19 infections due to their similar symptoms and indications. Extensive multicentric studies need to be conducted to investigate the causes of the increased number of CCHF cases during the pandemic. © 2023 Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi. All rights reserved.