Ricerc@Sapienza

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that is responsible
for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has rapidly spread across the world, becoming
a pandemic. The “cytokine storm” (CS) in COVID-19 leads to the worst stage of illness, and its timely
control through immunomodulators, corticosteroids, and cytokine antagonists may be the key to
reducing mortality. After reviewing published studies, we proposed a Cytokine Storm Score (CSs) to
identify patients who were in this hyperinflammation state, and at risk of progression and poorer
outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 31 patients admitted to Infectious Disease Department in
“St. Maria” Hospital in Terni with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, and analyzed the “CS score”
(CSs) and the severity of COVID-19. Then we conducted a prospective study of COVID-19 patients
admitted after the definition of the CSscore. This is the first study that proposes and applies a new
score to quickly identify COVID-19 patients who are in a hyperinflammation stage, to rapidly treat
them in order to reduce the risk of intubation. CSs can accurately identify COVID-19 patients in
the early stages of a CS, to conduct timely, safe, and effect administration of immunomodulators,
corticosteroids, and cytokine antagonists, to prevent progression and reduce mortality.