Serum Level of Some Immunological Markers in COVID-19 Patients in Diyala Province, Iraq

Background: This study aimed to measure the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and IFN-Ƴ in the sera of patients with severe COVID-19 in Diyala province in Iraq. Materials & Methods: Blood samples were collected from 60 patients in Baquba Teaching Hospital in Iraq between January and April 2021, these patients had clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, diagnosed by the hospital doctors; in addition, 30 samples were taken from healthy control people, and the levels of IL_1β, IL_18, and IFN_Ƴ markers were detected in COVID-19 patients and the control group by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. Findings: This study displayed the high level of IL_1β, IL_18, and IFN_Ƴ in COVID-19 patients compared with the control group (154.04 ± 16.54 versus 85.41 ± 8.9 pg/mL, 82.88 ± 7.96 versus 66.67 ± 9.34 pg/mL, and 116.06 ± 26.5 versus 97.96 ± 12.2pg/mL, respectively). This study also showed a high prevalence of COVID-19 in males compared to females. In the sera of COVID-19 patients, the levels of IL_1β, IL_18, and IFN_Ƴ were noticeably higher in females than in males. Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the levels of IL_1β, IL_18, and IFN-Ƴ between the study groups; also, they were higher in females than in males.