Evaluation of the relationship between progression and SARS-CoV-2 viral load in COVID-19 cases in Ankara, Turkey

Authors

  • Mustafa Guney University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Tugrul Hosbul University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Ferhat Cuce University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Cumhur Artuk University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Gurhan Taskin University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Critical Care, Ankara, Turkey
  • Murat Caglayan Ankara Provincial Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Republic of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey
  • Sema Alacam Ministry Of Health, Istanbul Education Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Muhammed Furkan Kurkcu University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Fatime Yildiz University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Harun Erdal University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Gul Erdem University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Ayfer Bakir University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14940

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, viral load, PCR, prognosis

Abstract

Introduction: Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 may present with varying clinical pictures. This study aimed to examine the relationship between viral load cycle threshold value, clinical prognosis and other laboratory parameters in initial swab samples on the day of hospitalization.

Methodology: This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 112 patients, who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 via the Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM system. Cycle threshold values for the RdRp gene obtained from reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction positive patients were recorded.

Results: The mean age of the 112 patients was 47.57 ± 17 years. No relationship was found in symptoms, pneumonia, oxygen need, follow-up in intensive care unit, and mortality between patient groups with cycle threshold values of < 30 and ≥ 30. Frequencies of thrombocytopenia (50%) and elevated LDH levels were higher in patients with cycle threshold values of ≥ 30 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). There was a weak but significant correlation between cycle threshold values and CRP levels (Pearson’s r = 0.207, p = 0.029).

Conclusions: Symptoms or clinical prognosis were not significantly related to the SARS-CoV-2 viral load levels tested at admission or for the first time within the scope of this study. Thrombocytopenia and elevated LDH rates were higher in patients with cycle threshold values of ≥ 30. A weak but significant correlation was found between the viral load and CRP levels. Large-scale studies are needed to further elucidate this subject matter.

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Published

2022-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Guney M, Hosbul T, Cuce F, Artuk C, Taskin G, Caglayan M, Alacam S, Kurkcu MF, Yildiz F, Erdal H, Erdem G, Bakir A (2022) Evaluation of the relationship between progression and SARS-CoV-2 viral load in COVID-19 cases in Ankara, Turkey. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:462–468. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14940

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic