Correlation between lymphocyte subsets and CT pneumonia index in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract

Objective To explore the correlation between lymphocyte subtypes and CT pulmonary inflammatory index in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods Clinical data of 80 COVID-19 patients identified by nucleic acid test and clinical symptoms admitted in our hospital from January to February 2020 were collected in this study. They were 45 males and 35 females, and at an average age of 51.2 years. According to the severity of the disease, they were divided into the non-severe group (ordinary type, n=68) and the severe group (serious and critical type, n=12). The clinical data, chest CT findings and pneumonia index of the patients were observed and analyzed. Spearman analysis was employed to analyze the correlation between pneumonia index and lymphocyte subtypes count. Results The results showed that the T lymphocyte subsets of patients with COVID-19 were normal or decreased, and the levels of C-reactive protein and IL-6 were increased or normal. During the following courses of disease, within 1 week, weeks 1~2 and 2 weeks later, counts of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells in the severe group were decreased significantly at above 3 periods (P < 0.05), CT pulmonary inflammatory index was obviously elevated at the 3 periods (P < 0.05), and CD8+ T cells count was decreased during the former 2 periods (P < 0.05), when compared with the non-severe group. It was found that the peak time of CT pulmonary inflammation was mainly within 2 weeks after onset, and the beginning time of pneumonia absorption was mainly within 1~3 weeks. The pneumonia index was negatively correlated with CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells and Lym counts (P < 0.05). Conclusion The lower counts of lymphocyte subsets are, the severer the CT pulmonary inflammation is, and the more serious the condition is in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

• covid-19
• pneumonia
• ct image
• lymphocytes