The relationship between thoracic CT findings and C-reactive protein and ferritin levels in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to establish the relationship between thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings at initial presentation and CRP and ferritin levels in 232 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Material and Method: 232 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and underwent a thoracic CT examination at our hospital between Apr 2020 and Aug 2021 were enrolled in this study. The study group was selected from among individuals aged 18-45 years without any chronic diseases and comorbidities. The patients' complaints, RT-PCR test results and blood biochemistry values from the medical records system, and CT imaging from the PACS system were reviewed retrospectively. Parenchymal lesions, ground-glass area, consolidation and combination of ground-glass area and consolidation observed on thoracic CT were considered typical findings. Blood samples were analyzed in the laboratory using standard methods. Routine blood tests were performed to measure serum C-reactive protein and ferritin levels. Results: Out of the 232 patients infected with COVID-19, 118 were female and 114 were male. While the mean age of all patients was 34.9, the mean ages of men and women were 34.9 and 35.2, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the ages of patients with and without lung involvement (32.9, 37.9, p=0.903, respectively). CT scan showed typical parenchymal findings in 140 patients out of whom 65 were male and 75 were female. With regard to the morphologic features observed on CT, ground-glass density was the most common (74 patients), followed by a combination of ground-glass density and consolidation (34 patients) and finally consolidation (32 patients). In statistical analysis, no significant differences were found in CRP values between patients with and without lung involvement, whereas a significant difference was noted in ferritin values (p=0.196 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: We examined the relationship between serum CRP and ferritin levels and lung involvement and established that there is a strong correlation between serum ferritin levels and lung involvement. Considering the radiation exposure caused by CT scans as well as the cost of the procedure, we are convinced that serum ferritin levels may help clinicians in terms of early diagnosis, especially in patients with suspected lung involvement.