The clinical and predictive value of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio in critically ill and mechanically ventilated adult patients

Introduction: CPR/albumin ratio represents a new biomarker that integrates two laboratory-tested acute phase reactants: a positive one (C-reactive protein) and a negative one (albumin), and which can be used as an indicator of the severity, progression and outcome of various illnesses, including critical illnesses. In this retrospective study, we investigated the impact of the CRP/albumin ratio on the clinical characteristics and outcome of the treatment of critically ill and mechanically ventilated adult patients. Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 100 critically ill patients (65 % males and 35 % females; median age of 67) treated at the medical intensive care unit (ICU) which required the use of invasive mechanical ventilation. The primary diagnoses upon admission to the intensive care unit were: sepsis and septic shock (39 %), acute heart failure or worsening chronic heart failure (20 %), exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16 %), pneumonia (11 %), acute kidney injury or the exacerbation of chronic kidney disease (7 %) and other conditions (7 %). Results: Correlation analysis showed a significant moderate positive correlation between CRP/albumin ratio and the duration of mechanical ventilation measured in hours (r = 0.48, p = 0.001) and the time spent in the intensive care unit, measured in days (r = 0.44, p = 0.001). The median of the CRP/albumin ratio was 58.77 and the patients in the above-the-median group had a higher SOFA score. In terms of the outcomes, it has been determined that the surviving patients (56 %) had a significantly lower CRP/albumin ratio compared to those that had not survived (44 %), which correlates with their SOFA scores as well. In the group of survivors, the correlation between the ratio of CRP/albumin and the SOFA score is positive and statistically significant (r = 0.29, p = 0.03), in the group non-survivoris (r= 0.45, p = 0.003.) Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, the CRP/albumin ratio has proved to be a good predictor of clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients

Prognostic significance inflammatory scoring systems in critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection

Aim: The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia that was first detected in Wuhan in December 2019 resulted in a worldwide pandemic. Approximately 25% of confirmed cases developed a severe disease and the need for intensive care unit admission. The aim of this study was to determine the role of three inflammatory scoring systems, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, fibrinogen/albumin ratio, C-reactive protein/lymphocyte ratio and their association with survival, comorbidities, and the occurrence of additional complications in the intensive care of these patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was conducted based on data collected by the Department of Respiratory Center. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Osijek University Hospital. This study analysed data retrospectively between October and December 2020, and included 137 critically ill patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Results: Data analysis of three examined inflammatory points of the system, below and above the median found a significant association in the group below the median C-reactive protein/albumin ratio with the presence of complications (p= 0,039) in the group above the median in the study of fibrinogen/albumin ratio found a significant association with sepsis (p=0,043). In the group of participants who were above its median in terms of C-reactive protein/lymphocyte ratio, there were more of those with the development of acute kidney injury (p=0,014), and sepsis (p=0,009). Conclusion: Inflammatory scoring systems, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, fibrinogen/albumin ratio and C‐reactive protein/lymphocyte ratio represent an independent prognostic indicator of the clinical course in critically ill patients with COVID-19 infection

The Relationship between Nrf2 and HO-1 with the Severity of COVID-19 Disease

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) have significant roles in the development of a hyperinflammatory state in infectious diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of the serum concentrations of Nrf2 and HO-1 with the severity of COVID-19 disease. The study included 40 subjects with mild and moderately severe forms of the disease (MEWS scoring system ≤2). Twenty of the subjects had MEWS scores of 3 or 4, which indicate a severe form of the disease, and twenty subjects had a MEWS score of ≥5, which indicates a critical form of the disease. HO-1 and Nrf2 were measured using the commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Subjects with the most severe form of COVID-19 (critically ill) had a lower concentration of Nrf2 that negatively correlated with the markers of hyperinflammatory response (CRP, IL-6, ferritin). This observation was not made for HO-1, and the correlation between Nrf2 and HO-1 values was not established. In the mild/moderate form of COVID-19 disease, Nrf2 was associated with an increased 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D concentration. The results of this study show that Nrf2 has a role in the body’s anti-inflammatory response to COVID-19 disease, which makes it a potential therapeutic target