Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha status in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)

Background: : Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) produces an inflammatory process and plays a critical role against infection and in the control of viral infection. The present study was conducted to determine the status of serum TNF-alpha in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In this cross-sectional study the serum TNF-alpha level, sex, and age, were determined in patients with COVID-19. The association between variables was determined using the student t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, multiple logistic regression analysis, and the statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)- 18 (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 91 (women 41.75%, and men 58.24%) patients with a mean serum TNF-alpha level of 9.9 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) were considered. In all (100%) patients, the TNF-alpha serum level was more than the normal limit (P=0.95). 95.60% of patients suffered severe COVID-19, with a TNF-a serum level of 10.20 pg/mL (P=0.87). Mean TNF-alpha serum levels in women and men were 11.37 pg/mL and 8.8 pg/mL, respectively (P= 0.17). In the age group of > 70 years (11.30 pg/mL), serum TNF-alpha concentration was higher than the other age groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: A significant proportion of women and men patients with COVID-19 in the middle and old age had a high concentration of serum TNF-alpha which may indicate the severity of the disease. Serum TNF-alpha level is different in women and men of different ages, so it can contribute to treatment strategies.