Absence of "Cytokine Storm" in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

• Main Authors: Maeghan L. Ciampa (Author), Thomas A. O'Hara (Author), Constance L. Joel (Author), Melinda M. Gleaton (Author), Kirti K. Tiwari (Author), Daniel M. Boudreaux (Author), Balakrishna M. Prasad (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2021-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<b>Background:</b> A rapidly growing number of publications cite "cytokine storm" as a contributing factor in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathology. However, a few recent reports led to questioning of "cytokine storm" theory in COVID-19. This study's primary goal is to determine if exaggerated cytokine response in the range of a "cytokine storm" develops during the initial weeks of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients. <b>Methods:</b> Five proinflammatory cytokines reported to be involved in "cytokine storm" and elevated in COVID-19 (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1, and IP-10) were analyzed in COVID-19, influenza (with "cytokine storm": CS), and burn injury patients. The effect of dexamethasone use on cytokine response in COVID-19 was also analyzed. <b>Results:</b> None of the five cytokines in COVID-19 patients reached the lower threshold (95% CI) of the influenza (CS) group at any point during the study period. Furthermore, mean concentrations of all five cytokines in the influenza (CS) group and IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in the burn group were significantly greater than in COVID-19 patients (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment did not significantly alter the concentrations of any of the cytokines analyzed. <b>Conclusions</b>: Exaggerated cytokine response similar to "cytokine storm" was not observed in COVID-19 patients during two weeks of hospitalization.

Item Description

10.3390/idr13020036
2036-7449