Role of TNF-α in patients with omicron coronavirus: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant has spread through the world and has caused a global pandemic. In order to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease’s severity, several immunological and biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), D-dimer, serum ferritin, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) are evaluated immediately. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the concentration of TNF-α level in the omicron coronavirus patients, and to determine the correlation of TNF-α with some biomarkers [TNF-α, D-dimer, serum ferritin, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), GPT, and LDH]. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients (40 males and 20 females), with the age ranging from 23 to 71 years from the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Babylon Iraq, were included in the current investigation. The period of study was between October and December 2021. Included criteria omicron coronaviruses patients with positive “Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)” results while the excluded criteria omicron coronaviruses patients with positive “RT-PCR” results were reviewed. Then the positive patient divided by using saturation oxygen (SPO2) into three groups (mild, moderate, and severe groups). Sex, age, and SPO2 were recorded, and biomarkers (GOT, GPT, and LDH) were measured in all patients using a bio-based device (ACCENT-200 ALAT KIT). The D-dimer and serum ferritin for all patients were done by VIDS instrument. Results: In this sample, the ages ranged from 23 to 71, with a mean of 60.32 ± 13.39. TNF-α concentrations were found to be significantly greater in the severe patient group compared to the mild patient group and the moderate patient group (P = 0.06). Severe patients had greater GPT and GOT concentrations than mild and moderate patients. There was a positive and statistically significant association between TNF-α and D-dimer in the mild group (r = 0.734**, P = 0.000). Neither TNF-α nor serum ferritin levels were correlated with liver function tests. Conclusion: Among omicron coronavirus patients, GOPT, GPT, and LDH were all elevated in the severe group, whereas there was no statistically significant difference between the mild and moderate groups (mild, moderate, and severe group). TNF-α levels were not associated with liver function tests in this research.