title: Expression of lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
abstract: In a cohort of 38 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), we observed leukopenia in 47% of patients, lymphopenia in 84%, and T lymphopenia in 95%. CD4(+) T lymphocyte levels were reduced in 100% of patients, CD8(+) T lymphocyte levels were reduced in 87%, B lymphocyte levels were reduced in 76%, and natural killer cell levels were reduced in 55%. Our data suggested that these patients' immune systems were impaired during the course of SARS. The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets demonstrated a clinical significance for patients with SARS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, People's Republic of China. mawx@csc.pumch.ac.cn
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: An-ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*