Objective: Acute-phase proteins are a family of proteins synthesized by the liver. With this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on acute phase reactants (AFR) and determine the usability of AFRs as prognostic factors in COVID-19 disease.

Material and Method: Serum samples taken for routine analysis of the patients admitted to the Emergency Department and diagnosed with COVID-19, were used. AFR levels of 30 patients who resulted in mortality and 30 recovered patients were evaluated. C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), ceruloplasmin (Cp), albumin (Alb), prealbumin (Prealb), transferrin (Trf), lactate, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) assessment was performed.

Results: The hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for FER, CRP, lactate, Alb, Cp, Prealb, Trf, Age, SOFA, and APACHE were 1.001 (1.000–1.001), 1.005 (1.001–1.008), 1.141 (1.016–1.243), 1.016 (0.740–1.399), 1.016 (0.740–1.399), 1.056 (1.017–1.100), 0.978 (0.917–1.035), 1.000 (0.995–1.006), 1.032 (1.004–1.064), 1.104 (0.971–1.247), and 1.012 (0.974–1.051), respectively, in univariable model. Only CRP, lactate, and FER found significant in multivariable model. In addition, patients in the nonsurvivors group had significantly higher FER, CRP, lactate, APACHE, age, and SOFA. Nonsurvivors also had lower Alb, Prealb, and serum Trf level compared to survivors.

Conclusion: CRP, lactate, and FER, which we have shown to be significantly higher in severe COVID-19 patients, will be valuable parameters that will contribute to clinical improvement if they are used in the follow-up of patients due to their easy measurement and predictive values.

Acute-phase proteins Survival COVID-19 Mortality APACHE SOFA