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Elevated Methaemoglobin Level in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit

Zaid Khalid, Vásárhelyi Barna, Zoltan Vajda

There have been reports that methaemoglobin levels are raising in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: The diagnosis of Coronavirus-19 infection was confirmed by RT-PCR. The methaemoglobin determination was by cyanidderivative spectrophotometry.

Results: There were altogether 46 patients (11 male, 35 female) included. Their median age was 70 y. ( 29-89). The methaemoglobin median value was 3,9 15 of 46 patients died. The methaemoglobin median value of departed patients was 8%, and 2,5% was among survivors. ( p=0,001).19 patients were blood transfused. Their methaemoglobin median was 11%, otherwise the non transfused patients presented 2,7% methaemoglobin median.(p=0,001).We performed two binary logistic regression calculation, computing the elevated methaemoglobin level as an independent risk factor for the mortality. The predictor of methaemoglobin was 0,062 the constant -1,266 the odds ratio 1,06. The other binary logistic regression tested the fact of transfusion for the mortality. Predictor of transfusion 1,1474, constant -1,2527 odds ratio 3,15.

Conclusion: The correlation of methaemoglobin with mortality is worth examining further. The role of transfusion is obscure, because the methaemoglobin can be elevated in blood conserves during storage. Testing the methemoglobin seems to be important, but the pathomechanism needs further research.