title: Kinetic analysis of the immunity in a pregnant patient infected with avian influenza H7N9.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human infection with avian influenza A H7N9 has emerged in China since February, 2013. The immunologic changes in pregnant women infected with H7N9 are not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical data and kinetic changes of immunity in a pregnant woman infected with H7N9 virus in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data were collected and immunity status was monitored in this patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H7N9 virus became undetectable in sputum from 14 days since onset of symptoms after effective antiviral therapy with oseltamivir and symptomatic/supporting treatments. The symptoms and signs in this patient gradually improved from 15 days since onset of symptoms. Peripheral lymphocytes initially decreased and gradually increased. The percentage of CD4+ T cells increased since 16 days after onset of symptoms. The kinetic changes of cytokines including IFN-γ, IFN-α, TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β1 matched the development and recovery of illness. Her family members, including her parents exposed to H7N9 positive materials in poultry market, were H7N9 negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that pregnant women are susceptible to H7N9 virus and H7N9 infection in pregnant women is curable without significant impact on fetus. Kinetic changes of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis and clinical outcome in the pregnant patient with H7N9 infection.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Peng-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Chen
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Zhenjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Fang-An
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Zhenjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Xiang
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Zhenjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Qun
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Deng
keywords: H7N9; cytokine; pregnancy