EBV DNA increase in COVID-19 patients with impaired lymphocyte subpopulation count. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paolucci, Stefania; Cassaniti, Irene; Novazzi, Federica; Fiorina, Loretta; Piralla, Antonio; Comolli, Giuditta; Bruno, Raffaele; Maserati, Renato; Gulminetti, Roberto; Novati, Stefano; Mojoli, Francesco; Baldanti, Fausto; Bruno, R; Mondelli, M; Brunetti, E; Di Matteo, A; Seminari, E; Maiocchi, L; Zuccaro, V; Pagnucco, L; Mariani, B; Ludovisi, S; Lissandrin, R; Parisi, A; Sacchi, P; Patruno, SFA; Michelone, G; Gulminetti, R; Zanaboni, D; Novati, S; Maserati, R; Orsolini, P; Vecchia, M; Sciarra, M; Asperges, E; Colaneri, M; Di Filippo, A; Sambo, M; Biscarini, S; Lupi, M; Roda, S; Pieri, TC; Gallazzi, I; Sachs, M; Valsecchi, P; Perlini, S; Alfano, C; Bonzano, M; Briganti, F; Crescenzi, G; Falchi, AG; Guarnone, R; Guglielmana, B; Maggi, E; Martino, I; Pettenazza, P; Pioli di Marco, S; Quaglia, F; Sabena, A; Salinaro, F; Speciale, F; Zunino, I; De Lorenzo, M; Secco, G; Dimitry, L; Cappa, G; Maisak, I; Chiodi, B; Sciarrini, M; Barcella, B; Resta, F; Moroni, L; Vezzoni, G; Scattaglia, L; Boscolo, E; Zattera, C; Tassi, MF; Capozza, V; Vignaroli, D; Bazzini, M; Iotti, G; Mojoli, F; Belliato, M; Perotti, L; Mongodi, S; Tavazzi, G; Marseglia, G; Licari, A; Brambilla, I; Barbarini, D; Bruno, A; Cambieri, P; Campanini, G; Cavanna, C.; Comolli, G; Corbella, M; Daturi, R; Furione, M; Mariani, B; Marone, P; Maserati, R; Monzillo, E; Paolucci, S; Parea, M; Percivalle, E; Piralla, A; Rovida, F; Sarasini, A; Zavattoni, M; Adzasehoun, G; Ardizzone, M; Bellotti, L; Brunco, V; Cabano, E; Casali, G; Capella, L; Devitis, D; Dossena, L; Frisco, G; Garbagnoli, G; Gardellini, F; Girello, A; Guerrizio, A; Landini, V; Lucchelli, C; Maliardi, V; Piemontese, P; Pezzaia, S; Premoli, M; Rebuffa, C; Zanello, C; Bagnarino, J; Bergami, F; Bonetti, A; Caneva, G; Cassaniti, I; Corcione, A; Di Martino, R; Di Napoli, A; Ferrari, A; Ferrari, G; Fiorina, L; Gallone, A; Giardina, F; Girardi, A; Mercato, A; Merla, C; Novazzi, F; Ratano, G; Rossi, B; Saveriaempillai, G; Sciabica, IM; Tallarita, M; Vecchio Nepita, E; Vitali, J; Cerino, A; Varchetta, S; Oliviero, B; Mantovani, S; Mele, D; Calvi, M; Tizzoni, M; Nicora, C; Triarico, A; Petronella, V; Marena, C; Muzzi, A; Lago, P; Cutti, S; Novelli, V; Comandatore, F; BatistiBiffignandi, G; Gaiarsa, S; Rettani, M; Bandi, C; Ferrari, A;
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 104(2021)
• Page Start: 315
• Page End: 319
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- EBV DNA -- Lymphocyte subpopulation; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.12.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: EBV reactivation was observed in patients with COVID-19. NK + and CD8 + T cell reduction was related to the severity of COVID-19 infection. An increase of B cells in patients with severe symptoms was documented. Abstract: Objectives: The immunologic profile and opportunistic viral DNA increase were monitored in Italian patients with COVID-19 in order to identify markers of disease severity. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated in the study. Of them, 42/104 (40.4%) were hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) and 62/104(59.6%) in a sub-intensive care unit (SICU). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Parvovirus B19 and Human Herpesvirus 6 virus reactivations were determined by real-time PCR, and lymphocyte subpopulation counts were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Among opportunistic viruses, only EBV was consistently detected. EBV DNA was observed in 40/42 (95.2%) of the ICU patients and in 51/61 (83.6%) of the SICU patients. Comparing the two groups of patients, the EBV DNA median level among ICU patients was significantly higher than that observed in SICU patients. In parallel, a significant reduction of CD8 T cell and NK count in ICU patients as compared with SICU patients was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, B cell count was significantly increased in ICU patients (p = 0.0172). Conclusions: A correlation between reduced CD8 + T cells and NK counts, EBV DNA levels and COVID-19 severity was observed. Other opportunistic viral infections were not observed. The relationship between EBV load and COVID-19 severity should be further evaluated in longitudinal studies.