Somayeh Sheidaei - Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Maryam Ghasemi - Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Elahe Kavoosi - Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Fatemeh Abedian Kenari - Medical Student, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Background: Coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) is an emerging disease that has affected the world and requires extensive studies. Studies have shown that high procalcitonin (PCT) level is associated with the severity of many diseases, such as bacterial endocarditis, pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, enterocolitis, and even appendicitis. This study aimed to evaluate the serum PCT levels in COVID-۱۹ patients admitted to hospitals in northern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Boo-Ali Sina and Imam Khomeini hospitals, Mazandaran Province, the north of Iran. A questionnaire consisting of demographic characterization was filled out for every patient. Results of some laboratories and clinical manifestations of the disorder were extracted from their clinical records. Results: A total of ۱۰۳ COVID-۱۹ patients (۵۳ male and ۵۰ female) were included in the study. Our patients’ mean serum PCT level was ۰.۱۸±۰.۰۲۴ ng/mL. Significant relationships existed between patients’ age and serum PCT level (P=۰.۰۲۵) and short-term prognosis (P=۰.۰۴۴). Conclusion: The short-term prognosis of the disease was significantly associated with the serum PCT level, which indicates that increasing the serum PCT levels worsen the short-term prognosis. Therefore, serum PCT level may help determine disease severity and predict the prognosis of the disease in COVID-۱۹ patients.

Procalcitonin, COVID-۱۹, Pandemic