Changes of Routine Hematological Parameters in COVID-۱۹ Patients: Correlation with Imaging Findings, RT-PCR and Outcome

Background & Objective: Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) is progressively spreading, and many researchers have focused on the prognostic value of laboratory analyses. This study reviewed routine blood parameters, upper respiratory viral load, and chest imaging in recovered and expired COVID-۱۹ patients and evaluated possible correlations.Methods: In this retrograde study, ۱۳۸ COVID-۱۹ cases were enrolled. Chest tomography scores of patients, routine hematologic and  biochemical parameters, and respiratory viral loads were measured. Furthermore, their correlation with severity of disease  and the outcome was investigated during a week of admission.Results: The mean age of participants was ۵۸.۶±۱۶;  ۳۶.۲% of whom were diagnosed as critical, ۸.۷% expired, and ۴۶% showed less than ۵۰% lung opacity. The expiring rate was only correlated to the severity of illness and viral load. During admission, hemoglobin concentration was decreased in critical patients (from ۱۱.۴۹±۰.۲۷ to ۱۰.۵۹±۰.۳۶, P=۰.۰۴۲) and also among CT-scan scoring groups (P=۰.۰۰۰), while neutrophils (P=۰.۰۴), WBC (P=۰.۰۳), and platelets (P=۰.۰۰۰) count were increased. In patients with more than ۵۰% lung opacity, leukocyte counts were decreased, but neutrophil and platelets counts showed raise (all P<۰.۰۵), while other hematologic parameters did not change. CRP and LDH demonstrated no  increase based on the severity of the illness, RT-PCR viral loads and/or outcome. However, both CRP and LDH were increased in patients with more than ۵۰% lobal opacity (CRP: ۶۹.۳±۹.۹ to ۱۰۲۱.۱±۷.۵ and LDH:۵۸۹.۵±۹۳.۲ to ۱۱۲۸.۶±۱۵.۸۱, P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: We found that hemoglobin, white blood cells, neutrophil, lymphocytes, and platelets count together with chest tomography score might be beneficial for expedition the  diagnosis, assessmen the severity of the disease, and outcome in the hospitalized cases, while CRP and LDH might be considered as the consequence of lung involvement.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Hematology , Tomography scanners , Viral load