Clinical Characteristics, Serological and Radiological changes of Patients With COVID-19 (preprint)

Background Since December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that began in Wuhan and rapidly spread globally. The speed and scope of spread of COVID-19 makes urgent of the defining clinical characteristics,  serological and radiological changes of the affected patients.Method 7 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who admitted to the Third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university Yuedong hospital from January 2020 to March 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and their clinical features, serological and radiological longitudinal changes were analyzed.Results Among the 7 patients, all (100%) had a clear epidemiological history. The most common symptoms were respiratory symptoms 6 (85.7%), and only 2 (28.6%) of the patients had fever at their first visit. The cohort included 4 (57.1%) common types and 3 (42.9%) severe types. Two (28.6%) common types patients developed to severe type in a short time. All of the 7 patients (100%) had abnormal liver function, normal renal function and normal procalcitonin. The detection time of specific antibody in 7 patients was 5~13d after symptoms. Before the specific antibody could be detected, the absolute value of lymphocytes decreased in 2 (28.6%) common type cases transferred to severe type cases accompanied with obvious progress in pulmonary imaging, and the phenomenon of decreased albumin and elevated globulin occurred in 6 patients (85.7%). The predominant pattern of lung lesions observed was bilateral (71.4%) and mainly near the pleura at the first diagnosis. Bilateral pulmonary involvement occurred in 6 cases (85.7%) during the course of disease. In 4 cases (57.1%) with obvious pulmonary lesions, the absolute value of lymphocytes decreased, albumin decreased and globulin increased during the course of the disease. Conclusion Serum specific antibodies can be detected within 2 weeks of onset. Close observation of the dynamic changes of absolute value of blood lymphocytes, serum albumin and globulin which were related to pulmonary imaging changes in patients will contribute to assessment of COVID-19.  

Clinical Characteristics, Serological and Radiological Longitudinal Changes of Patients With COVID-19 (preprint)

Background Since December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that began in Wuhan and rapidly spread globally. The speed and scope of spread of COVID-19 makes urgent of the defining clinical characteristics, serological and radiological changes of the affected patients. Method 7 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who admitted to the Third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university Yuedong hospital from January 2020 to March 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and their clinical features, serological and radiological longitudinal changes were analyzed. Results Among the 7 patients, all (100%) had a clear epidemiological history. The most common symptoms were respiratory symptoms 6 (85.7%), and only 2 (28.6%) of the patients had fever at their first visit. The cohort included 4 (57.1%) common types and 3 (42.9%) severe types. Two (28.6%) common types patients developed to severe type in a short time. All of the 7 patients (100%) had abnormal liver function, normal renal function and normal procalcitonin. The detection time of specific antibody in 7 patients was 5~13d after symptoms. Before the specific antibody could be detected, the absolute value of lymphocytes decreased in 2 (28.6%) common type cases transferred to severe type cases accompanied with obvious progress in pulmonary imaging, and the phenomenon of decreased albumin and elevated globulin occurred in 6 patients (85.7%). The predominant pattern of lung lesions observed was bilateral (71.4%) and mainly near the pleura at the first diagnosis. Bilateral pulmonary involvement occurred in 6 cases (85.7%) during the course of disease. In 4 cases (57.1%) with obvious pulmonary lesions, the absolute value of lymphocytes decreased, albumin decreased and globulin increased during the course of the disease. Conclusion Serum specific antibodies can be detected within 2 weeks of onset. Close observation of the dynamic changes of absolute value of blood lymphocytes, serum albumin and globulin which were related to pulmonary imaging changes in patients will contribute to assessment of COVID-19.

Three cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia with viral nucleic acids still positive in stool after throat swab detection turned negative / 中华消化杂志

The novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has spread from Wuhan to all parts of China since December 2019, and the prevention and control of NCP is a top priority for medical staff. Now report three cases of NCP patients, whose viral nucleic acids still positive in stool after throat swab detection turned negative. In view of the highly homologous and similar clinical manifestations between the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and the severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) related coronaviruses, it is recommended to attach great importance to the detection of the viral nucleic acids in stool, with the reference of SARS prevention and control experience. In order to minimize the risks of gastrointestinal spread, the detection of 2019-nCoV nucleic acids in stool may be recommended as the reference standard of disisolation and discharge.