OBJECTIVES: The coordinated immune response of the host is the key of the successful combat of the body against SARS-CoV-2 infection and is decisive for the development and progression of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the immunological phenotype of patients are associated with duration of illness in patients with severe COVID-19. METHOD: In this single-center study, 69 patients with severe or critical COVID-19 were recruited retrospectively. Immunological parameters including counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and levels of circulating cytokines and cytokine receptors were screened for their association with disease severity, survival and duration of illness of COVID-19. RESULTS: Our data confirmed previous results that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and circulating levels of IL-6 represent prominent biomarker for the prediction of disease severity and survival of COVID-19. However, this study shows for the first time that duration of illness in patients with severe COVID-19 is positively associated with serum levels of IL-8 (P=0.004) and soluble IL-2Rα (P=0.025). CONCLUSION: The significant association of duration of illness with circulating levels of IL-8 and soluble IL-2Rα in patients with severe COVID-19 implicates that neutrophils and T cells are involved in the evolution of COVID-19.
- Ma, A.
- Zhang, L.
- Ye, X.
- Chen, J.
- Yu, J.
- Zhuang, L.
- Weng, C.
- Petersen, F.
- Wang, Z.
- Yu, X.
Keywords
- *coronavirus disease 2019
- *interleukin 6
- *interleukin 8
- *neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio
- *severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus−2
- *soluble interleukin 2 receptor
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