[Clinical features and therapy of 106 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and find out its effective treatment.


METHODS
A total of 106 cases of SARS were analyzed prospectively.


RESULTS
In this group, 56 were male and 50 female, aged from 15 to 81 years [average (36 +/- 10) years]. Common symptoms included fever (98.1%), chills (75.5%), cough (71.7%), headache and breathless (both 43.4%), diarrhea (24.5%) and rare rales in the lungs (11.2%). Laboratory test showed leukopenia (34.0%), lymphopenia (81.1%) and an extraordinary decrease of CD(4)(+) T cells (98.1%). Other rare abnormalities included liver injury (elevated alanine aminotransferase in 7.6%) and thrombocytopenia (3.8%). Almost all patients suffered from hypoxemia (PaO(2) less than 90 mm Hg in 90.2%, less than 70 mm Hg in 28.6%). Chest radiographs showed that unilateral focal patchy involvement in 34.0% of the patients, and unilateral multifocal or bilateral involvement were 11.3% and 46.2% respectively. Treatment regimens included small doses of steroids (methylprednisolone 40-80 mg, q12 h recommended) accompanied with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as the second generation of cephalosporins and macrolides and some other antiviral drugs. Meanwhile, emphasis was placed on oxygen support and coping with their underlying diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
SARS has various presentations of clinical features and laboratory tests. Detection of CD(4)(+) T cell count is beneficial to diagnose SARS in early stage. Effective treatment includes various regimens, oxygen support and small doses of steroids.
Liu
Zheng-yin
ZY
Department of Infections Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China.
Li
Tai-sheng
TS
Wang
Zhong
Z
Xu
Zuo-jun
ZJ
Wang
Huan-ling
HL
Yu
Ying
Y
Du
Tie-kuan
TK
Bai
Yan
Y
Qiu
Zhi-feng
ZF
Lü
Wei
W
Fan
Hong-wei
HW
Ma
Xiao-jun
XJ
Zhou
Bao-tong
BT
Wang
Ai-xia
AX
Cai
Bai-qiang
BQ
Deng
Guo-hua
GH
Ni
An-ping
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome