Elif Böncüoğlu (Turkey)

University of Health Sciences Dr. Behçet Uz Child Disease and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Infectious Diseases
I was born in Istanbul, Turkey. I graduated from Trakya University School of Medicine in 2013. I completed a pediatric residency in Istanbul. I am currently working as a fellow in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Dr. Behçet Uz Children’s Hospital in İzmir, Turkey. My research interests include viral infections and tuberculosis.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

CAN LABORATORY FINDINGS PREDICT PULMONARY INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH COVID-19 INFECTION? (ID 571)

Session Name
1893 - ORAL PRESENTATIONS 02: COVID CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGY (ID 36)
Lecture Time
10:21 - 10:28
Room
Hall 02
Presenter

Abstract

Background

It has been understood from worldwide reports that Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease with a different course in children than adults. Studies investigating clinical and imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia and predictors for lung injury mostly focus on adults, and limited data are available for children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of laboratory findings in predicting lung involvement in children with COVID-19.

Methods

Between March 11, 2020, and December 25, 2020, a total of 101 pediatric COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR or antibody test and who underwent chest CT scans were reviewed retrospectively. On admission absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), ANC/ALC ratio, platelet count, D-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, procalcitonin, CRP and lactate dehydrogenase levels were compared in patients with normal and abnormal CT scans.

Results

Among the patients, 68 (67.3%) had normal CT scans, and 33 (32.7%) had pulmonary involvement. The median CRP, ferritin and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in children with abnormal CT findings. The model of binary logistic regression based on the presence of cough, shortness of breath, fibrinogen, ferritin, and CRP levels showed that the possibility of having abnormal CT was 1.021 times likely to happen for every additional increase of fibrinogen levels.

Conclusions

In conclusion, while CRP, fibrinogen, and ferritin levels differ significantly in patients with pulmonary injury, ALC, ANC, LDH, D-dimer, PLT, procalcitonin, and ANC / ALC ratio were similar compared to the patients with no pulmonary findings. Only fibrinogen levels were found to be an independent risk factor for pulmonary involvement. Restricting radiological imaging to patients with significant symptoms and high fibrinogen levels might be rational in children with COVID-19 infections.

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