RT Journal Article
T1 Early Cytokine Profiles in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 and Their Association with Mortality
A1 Gamarra Morales, Yenifer
A1 Molina López, Jorge
A1 Machado Casas, Juan Francisco
A1 Herrera Quintana, Lourdes
A1 Vázquez Lorente, Héctor
A1 Pérez Villares, José Miguel
A1 Planells, Elena
AB Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to (i) determine the levels of interleukins in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and (ii) evaluate their early dynamics, as well as (iii) assess their relationships with morbidity and mortality. Methods: This was a prospective analytical study of critically ill patients with COVID-19 who were monitored from admission to three days of stay in the ICU. Circulating levels of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured. Cytokine levels were analysed in relation to clinical severity parameters and 28-day mortality. Results: A dynamic cytokine response was observed during the first 72 h, with a significant increase in TNF-α levels and a decrease in IL-10 and IL-1β. Non-survivors showed higher TNF-α levels than survivors. In the multivariable analysis adjusted for clinical severity, TNF-α remained independently associated with 28-day mortality, whereas other cytokines did not retain statistical significance. The overall predictive performance of cytokines was moderate. Conclusions: Early cytokine dynamics reflect the evolving inflammatory response in critically ill COVID-19 patients. TNF-α emerges as an independent predictor of mortality, supporting its role as a relevant biomarker of adverse outcomes. Although its predictive capacity is moderate, TNF-α may provide clinically meaningful information for risk  stratification when integrated with established clinical and laboratory parameters.
PB MDPI
SN 2218-1989 (electrónico)
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28292
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/28292
LA eng
NO Gamarra-Morales, Y., Molina-López, J., Machado-Casas, J. F., Herrera-Quintana, L., Vázquez-Lorente, H., Pérez-Villares, J. M., & Planells, E. (2026). Early Cytokine Profiles in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 and Their Association with Mortality. Metabolites, 16(4), 256. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16040256
NO This publication was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) “a way of making Europe”, funded via the Consejería de Transformación Económica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades de la Junta de Andalucía (REF. A-CTS-708-UGR20), and by Project FIS PI10/1993 from the Spanish Carlos III Health Institute. L.H.-Q. (REF. FPU18/03702) and H.V.-L. (REF. FPU18/03655) were awarded a FPU fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 14 jul 2026