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Role of serum albumin and proteinuria in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia
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  • Cinzia Bassoli,
  • Letizia Oreni,
  • Elisabetta Ballone,
  • Antonella Foschi,
  • Andrea Perotti,
  • Annalisa Mainini,
  • Giacomo Casalini,
  • Laura Galimberti,
  • Luca Meroni,
  • Spinello Antinori,
  • Laura Milazzo
Cinzia Bassoli
Università degli Studi di Milano

Corresponding Author:cinzia.bassoli@unimi.it

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Letizia Oreni
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Elisabetta Ballone
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Antonella Foschi
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Andrea Perotti
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Annalisa Mainini
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Giacomo Casalini
Università degli Studi di Milano
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Laura Galimberti
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Luca Meroni
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Spinello Antinori
Università degli Studi di Milano
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Laura Milazzo
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco
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Abstract

BACKGROUND Hypoalbuminemia is frequently observed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection although its underlying mechanism and relationship with clinical outcome still need to be clarified. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated in patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at the Fatebenefratelli-Sacco Hospital in Milan, the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia, its association with the severity of COVID-19, with the levels of C-reactive protein, d-dimer and interleukin-6 and with clinical outcome over a follow-up period of 30 days. Urinalysis was evaluated in a subgroup of patients. RESULTS Serum albumin levels < 30 g/L were found in 105/207 (50.7%) patients at hospital admission. Overall, the median albumin value was 29.5 g/L (IQR 25-32.8). A negative association was found between albumin levels and severity of COVID-19 (p<0.0001) and death (p=0.003). An inverse correlation was observed between albumin and both C-reactive protein and D-dimer at hospital admission (r = -0.487 and r = -0.479, respectively; p< 0.0001). Finally, a positive correlation was found between albumin levels and eGFR (r= 0.137; p=0.049). Proteinuria was observed in 75% of patients with available data and it did not differ between patients with hypoalbuminemia and those with albumin > 30 g/L (81% and 67%, respectively; p=0.09). CONCLUSION In patients with COVID-19 hypoalbuminemia is common and observed in quite an early stage of pulmonary disease. It is strictly associated with inflammation markers and clinical outcome. The common finding of proteinuria, even in the absence of creatinine increase, indicates protein loss as a possible biomarker of local and systemic inflammation worthwhile to evaluate disease severity in COVID-19.
16 May 2020Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
18 May 2020Submission Checks Completed
18 May 2020Assigned to Editor
26 May 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
19 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Nov 20201st Revision Received
03 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
03 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
03 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
Apr 2021Published in International Journal of Clinical Practice volume 75 issue 4. 10.1111/ijcp.13946