Serum cytokine profiling reveals CXCL10 (IP-10) as a major predictor of severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients during the first pandemic wave in Italy - Summary - MDSpire

Serum cytokine profiling reveals CXCL10 (IP-10) as a major predictor of severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients during the first pandemic wave in Italy

  • By

  • Anita Muglia

  • Daniele Petrone

  • Ilaria Schiavoni

  • Letizia Santinelli

  • Pasqualina Leone

  • Antonino Bella

  • Gabriella d’Ettorre

  • Francesco Alessandri

  • Anna Teresa Palamara

  • Claudio Maria Mastroianni

  • Paola Stefanelli

  • Giorgio Fedele

  • May 25, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the prognostic value of a panel of cytokines and chemokines measured at hospital admission in predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Key Findings:
  • ICU admission occurred in 6.8% of patients and mortality in 11.7%.
  • CXCL10 was identified as the strongest predictor of adverse outcomes.
  • Each 1,000 pg/mL increase in CXCL10 was associated with increased odds of death (OR 1.26), ICU admission (OR 1.13), and composite outcomes (OR 1.21).
  • Elevated respiratory frequency and blood urea nitrogen were independently associated with worse outcomes.
Interpretation:

CXCL10 may serve as a key early immunological predictor of COVID-19 severity.

Limitations:
  • The study is retrospective and based on a limited sample size.
  • Findings require validation in larger prospective studies.
Conclusion:

Further investigation of CXCL10 is warranted.

Original Source(s)

Serum cytokine profiling reveals CXCL10 (IP-10) as a major predictor of severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients during the first pandemic wave in Italy

  • by Anita Muglia, Daniele Petrone, Ilaria Schiavoni, Letizia Santinelli, Pasqualina Leone, Antonino Bella, Gabriella d’Ettorre, Francesco Alessandri, Anna Teresa Palamara, Claudio Maria Mastroianni, Paola Stefanelli, Giorgio Fedele

  • May 25, 2026

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