查看文章

Background: Although the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not clearly defined, among the proposed mechanisms, immune system dysfunction is more likely than others. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics and clinical significance of dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets in the course of COVID-19. Methods: In this prospective study, the levels of peripheral lymphocyte subsets including CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺, CD38⁺, CD3⁺HLA-DR⁺, CD19⁺, CD20⁺, and CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells were measured by flow cytometry in 52 confirmed hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at the day of admission and after 7 days of care. Clinical response was defined as improvement in symptoms (fever, dyspnea, and cough as well as blood oxygen saturation), and patients who met these criteria after 1 week of admission were classified as early responders …