Factors related to serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in probable COVID-19 patients in surgical treatment: an observational study

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 causes a systemic inflammatory response, involving dysregulation and misexpression of many inflammatory cytokines. The recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells depend on the expression of many classes of inflammatory mediators, with increased expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules being related to COVID-19 disease severity. With the World Health Organization having recently updated case definitions to suspect, probable, and confirmed, this study aimed to measure the mean value of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and its relation to suspected COVID-19.

Methods: all suspected patients (n=20) were hospitalized and treated following the Indonesian National Guidelines for COVID-19 management. ICAM-1 levels were measured on days 1 and 7, demographic data were recorded, and routine blood count values were measured and additionally considered.

Results: the results showed that the levels of ICAM-1 in the 1^st-day group (mean 271.3 ng/ml) were higher than those in the 7^th-day group (mean 253.9 ng/ml). This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00, p ≤ 0.05). All of the patients with suspected COVID-19 were included in this study and tested for COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing. A total of 10 patients were confirmed positive with a COVID-19 infection, with elevated ICAM-1 levels compared to the confirmed negative patients (with a mean 1^st day 296.8 versus a mean 7th day 279.0 ng/ml). ICAM-1 levels of all patients decreased by the seventh day.

Conclusion: the mean value of ICAM-1 levels for patients with confirmed positive COVID-19 cases was higher than those with suspected COVID-19 cases.