Role of Biomarkers in COVID-19: an Updated Review

Abstract

Biomarkers can identify viral infection before the onset of symptoms or at an early stage, which can facilitate early diagnosis and isolation of patients, thereby reducing the spread of the virus. In addition, the monitoring of biomarker levels allows the assessment of disease severity, progression, and treatment response, thereby providing key information for making clinical decision. This document provides a comprehensive review of various COVID-19 biomarkers. It discusses how biomarkers can enable early detection of viral infection, monitoring of disease severity and progression, and assessment of treatment effectiveness. This article reviews and evaluates the biomarkers of COVID-19. Key biomarkers included serologic measures, such as IgM and IgG antibodies, and general hematologic measures, such as white-cell count, lymphocyte count, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin-6. These markers are usually closely related to virus infection, replication, and the body's immune response. The potential for using salivary biomarkers, such as albumin, for COVID-19 diagnosis is also mentioned in this document.