08 Sep High Ferritin Level Linked to Increased Risk of Deterioration From COVID-19 Infection

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Segal

Dr. Gadi Segal
Director of the Internal Medicine Department
Sheba Medical Center

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? 

Response: The background is the need to learn about COVID-19 pathophysiology in order to better stratify patients according to current and future severity. Such classification will enable better triage in times of pandemic and health-care-system over-load.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: The main finding was the fact that high ferritin level in the blood is an independent risk factor for future deterioration amongst COVID-19 patients upon presentation. This put COVID-19 amongst other, catastrophic, hyper-ferritimenic conditions.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: They are therefore advised to measure ferritin levels as part of their patient-admission in-hospital routine. They should place the patient accordingly (either discharge, admit to internal medicine or ICU) according to their risk assessment, based also on ferritin levels. This will help them to better their resource allocation measures.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: There is more place to learn about the source of ferritin in COVID-19 and specific cellular reactions leading to this unique “cytokine storm”. Such understanding may help us target specific components of the immune system as legitimate therapeutic targets.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Until we have an effective treatment and/or vaccine, the public should take responsibility and use masks at all times. This is the sole, independent measure of personal protection against COVID-19.

Citations:

Dahan, Shani & Segal, Gadi & Katz, Itai & Hellou, Tamar & Tietel, Michal & Bryk, Gabriel & Amital, Howard & Shoenfeld, Yehuda & Dagan, Amir. (2020). Ferritin as a Marker of Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Fatal Correlation. The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ. 8. 429-434. 

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Last Updated on September 8, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD