Table 2.
Biochemical parameters and cytokine levels of the whole cohort at baseline and at 4–6 weeks after hospital admission.
| FOLLOW-UP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | Baseline Mean (SD) or Median (IQR) n = 146 |
4–6 Weeks Mean (SD) or Median (IQR) n = 146 |
p-Value | ||
| Leukocytes (×109/L) | 6.49 | (4.89–8.19) | 6.14 | (4.95–7.49) | 0.734 |
| Lymphocytes (×109/L) | 1.10 | (0.59) | 1.92 | (0.76) | <0.001 * |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 12.95 | (11.62–13.9) | 12.70 | (11.60–13.62) | 0.139 |
| D-Dimer (ng/mL) | 540.00 | (382.75–888.25) | 434.00 | (294.00–683.00) | 0.070 |
| ESR (mm) | 65.15 | (37.22) | 48.83 | (53.89) | 0.655 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 385.00 | (160.00–606.00) | 153.00 | (58.00–248.25) | <0.001 * |
| CRP (mg/dL) | 7.00 | (3.00–14.00) | 0.40 | (0–0.70) | <0.001 * |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 103.00 | (87.00–128.00) | 93.00 | (85.00–110.25) | 0.054 |
| Total-cholesterol (mg/dL) | 140.61 | (35.39) | 173.51 | (50.64) | 0.005 * |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.75 | (0.59–0.89) | 0.79 | (0.62–0.89) | 0.160 |
| AST (U/L) | 31.00 | (23.25–44.00) | 23.00 | (18.00–30.00) | <0.001 * |
| ALT (U/L) | 28.00 | (19.25–51.75) | 26.00 | (19.00–46.00) | 0.332 |
| GGT (U/L) | 45.00 | (26.00–79.00) | 31.00 | (20.00–56.00) | 0.003 * |
| AP (U/L) | 66.00 | (51.75–89.25) | 70.00 | (59.00–84.00) | 0.005 * |
| LDH (U/L) | 285.60 | (80.14) | 197.35 | (42.70) | <0.001 * |
| Cytokines—Median (IQR): | |||||
| Resistin (×103 pg/mL) | 38.86 | (25.67–67.69) | 23.69 | (17.73–35.68) | <0.001 * |
| INF-β (pg/mL) | 889.50 | (333.14–2230.71) | 1080.17 | (435.38–2289.21) | 0.779 |
| INF-γ (pg/mL) | 11.83 | (5.50–23.86) | 5.95 | (3.05–14.99) | <0.001 * |
| IL-1β (pg/mL) | 4.91 | (2.22–12.50) | 4.94 | (2.03–15.49) | <0.001 * |
| IL-6 (pg/mL) | 11.70 | (4.90–26.42) | 2.90 | (2.10–5.30) | <0.001 * |
| IL-7 (pg/mL) | 7.38 | (3.93–13.50) | 3.61 | (1.98–6.95) | <0.001 * |
| IL-8 (pg/mL) | 40.68 | (15.88–94.56) | 11.14 | (7.03–23.40) | <0.001 * |
| IL-10 (pg/mL) | 31.12 | (8.97–57.53) | 22.23 | (9.61–92.33) | 0.109 |
| IL-13 (pg/mL) | 14.93 | (9.45–28.17) | 12.86 | (7.56–22.19) | <0.001 * |
| IL-15 (pg/mL) | 10.19 | (6.28–17.20) | 6.42 | (4.17–10.34) | <0.001 * |
| IL-17A (pg/mL) | 11.16 | (2.90–25.53) | 9.73 | (3.48–27.97) | 0.013 * |
| IL-18 (pg/mL) | 58.06 | (33.41–89.35) | 27.52 | (14.36–43.54) | <0.001 * |
| MCP-1 (pg/mL) | 731.42 | (528.77–1047.76) | 775.77 | (605.63–932.75) | 0.826 |
| TNF-α (pg/mL) | 46.42 | (27.22–61.52) | 30.77 | (18.33–47.89) | <0.001 * |
SD, standard deviation. Quantitative data are expressed as the mean (SD). Categorical variables are expressed as counts (percentage). p values were calculated by Kruskal–Wallis test, * Significant differences between different groups of pneumonia severity (p < 0.05). ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, c-reactive protein; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; AP, alkaline phosphatase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; INF, interferon; IL, interleukin; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha. Quantitative data are expressed as the mean (SD) or median (interquartile range, IQR) depending on the distribution of the variables. * Significant differences between baseline and 4–6 weeks determined by Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05).