Serum Levels of Arachidonic Acid, Interleukin-6, and C-Reactive Protein as Potential Indicators of Pulmonary Viral Infections: Comparative Analysis of Influenza A, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection, and COVID-19

• Published in: Viruses 2024-07, Vol.16 (7), p.1065
• Main Authors: Iftimie, Simona, Gabaldó-Barrios, Xavier, Penadés-Nadal, Joan, Canela-Capdevila, Marta, Piñana, Rubén, Jiménez-Franco, Andrea, López-Azcona, Ana F, Castañé, Helena, Cárcel, María, Camps, Jordi, Castro, Antoni, Joven, Jorge
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arachidonic acid; Arachidonic Acid - blood; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Comparative analysis; COVID-19; COVID-19 - blood; COVID-19 - diagnosis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Female; Humans; infectious diseases; Influenza; Influenza A; Influenza A virus; Influenza, Human - blood; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Influenza, Human - virology; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-6 - blood; Laboratories; Lipids; Lung diseases; Male; Measurement; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Physiological aspects; Prognosis; Respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory syncytial virus infection; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - blood; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - diagnosis; Respiratory tract infection; ROC Curve; SARS-CoV-2; Serum levels; Viral diseases; Viral infections; Viruses; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v16071065

Acute respiratory tract infections, including influenza A (FluA), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, and COVID-19, can aggravate to levels requiring hospitalization, increasing morbidity and mortality. Identifying biomarkers for an accurate diagnosis and prognosis of these infections is a clinical need. We performed a cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the changes in circulating levels of arachidonic acid, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with FluA, RSV, or COVID-19, and to analyze the potential of these parameters as diagnosis or prognosis biomarkers. We analyzed serum samples from 172 FluA, 80 RSV, and 217 COVID-19 patients, and 104 healthy volunteers. Individuals with lung viral diseases showed reduced arachidonic acid concentrations compared to healthy people, with these differences being most pronounced in the order COVID-19 > RSV > FluA. Conversely, IL-6 and CRP levels were elevated across diseases, with IL-6 emerging as the most promising diagnostic biomarker, with areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics plot higher than 0.85 and surpassing arachidonic acid and CRP. Moreover, IL-6 displayed notable efficacy in distinguishing between FluA patients who survived and those who did not (AUC = 0.80). These findings may provide useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring the severity of acute viral respiratory tract infections, ultimately improving patient outcomes.