COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Comorbidities: Clinical and Immunological Insight. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: El-Badawy, Omnia; Elsherbiny, Nahla M.; Abdeltawab, Doaa; Magdy, Doaa M.; Bakkar, Lamees M.; Hassan, Shimaa A.; Hassan, Elham A.; Thabet, Ahmed M.; Ashmawy, Ahmed M.; Moustafa, Ehab F.; Abbas, Wael A.; Ahmad, Ahmad Bahieldeen; Rayan, Amal; Saad, Khaled; Elhoufey, Amira; Hussein, Hosni A. M.; Thabet, Ali A.; Zahran, Asmaa M.
• Is Part Of: Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis. Volume 28(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-coV-2 -- comorbidities -- t cells -- tregs; Hemostasis -- Periodicals; Thrombosis -- Periodicals; 616.13
• DOI: 10.1177/10760296221107889
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-0296

Abstract

Aim: Our study's objectives were to study the clinical and laboratory characteristics that may serve as biomarkers for predicting disease severity, IL-10 levels, and frequencies of different T cell subsets in comorbid COVID-19 patients. Methods: Sixty-two hospitalized COVID-19 patients with comorbidities were assessed clinically and radiologically. Blood samples were collected to assess the T lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry and IL-10 levels by ELISA. Results: The most common comorbidities observed in COVID-19 patients were diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and malignancies. Common symptoms and signs included fever, cough, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, and sore throat. CRP, ferritin, D dimer, LDH, urea, creatinine, and direct bilirubin were significantly increased in patients than controls. Lymphocyte count and CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells were significantly decreased in comorbid COVID-19 patients, and CD25 and CD45RA expression were increased. CD4 + and CD8 + regulatory T cells (Tregs) and IL-10 levels were significantly decreased in patients. Conclusions: Many parameters were found to be predictive of severity in the comorbid patients in our study. Significant reductions in the levels and activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells were found. In addition, CD4 + and CD8 + Tregs were significant decreased in patients, probably pointing to a prominent role of CD8 + Tregs in dampening CD4 + T-cell activation.