Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy In COVID-19 Through Ferritin, D-Dimer, And Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (Rs12252) Analysis.

Background of the study: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has emerged as a global health crisis with significant morbidity and mortality. Identifying reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity is crucial. Ferritin and D-Dimer have shown potential as diagnostic markers, and genetic variations like interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3-rs12252) could further enhance diagnostic accuracy. Understanding the role of these biomarkers could improve patient management and outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of Ferritin, D-Dimer, and IFITM3 (rs12252) levels in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, thereby enhancing the identification and assessment of disease severity. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, involving 300 COVID-19 patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. Ferritin, D-Dimer, and IFITM3 (rs12252) levels were measured. Statistical analyses, including Ordinal Logistic Regression and ROC curves, were used to evaluate the diagnostic potential of these biomarkers. The study was conducted as collaboration between teams from private and governmental hospitals in KSA as shown in affiliations of authors in a period from December 2023 to October 2024 Results: The study revealed significant diagnostic implications of Ferritin, D-Dimer, and IFITM3 (rs12252) in COVID-19 patients. Ferritin levels were notably higher in patients compared to controls, with a high sensitivity and specificity (94.9%, 97.03% at >42 mg/L). D-Dimer also demonstrated significant differences, though with lower sensitivity and specificity (71.34%, 62.38% at >150 mg/L). Crucially, combining Ferritin and D-Dimer with IFITM3 markedly enhanced the diagnostic accuracy, raising the AUC from 0.985 and 0.766 to 0.992 (P <0.001, 95% C.I = 0.981 – 1.000). These findings underscore the robust potential of these biomarkers in effectively diagnosing and evaluating COVID-19 severity. Conclusion: Our study indicates that Ferritin, D-Dimer, and IFITM3 (rs12252) are potent biomarkers for COVID-19 diagnosis and severity assessment. Elevated Ferritin levels and D-Dimer, combined with IFITM3, significantly improve diagnostic accuracy. These findings support the use of these biomarkers in clinical settings for reliable and accurate identification and evaluation of COVID-19 severity, thus facilitating better patient management and treatment strategies.