Pilot Study of Lymphocyte Subset Analysis in COVID-19 Patients Presenting to a Tertiary Hospital

ABSTRACT

Introduction: A reduced absolute lymphocyte count in peripheralblood along with relative increase in neutrophil count has beenobserved consistently in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The role ofbaseline lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 is still unknown.Aims &Objectives: We aimed at analyzing the baseline lymphocytesubsets in COVID-19 patients and its impact on the outcome andseverity of the disease.Materials &Methods: Study was conducted retrospectively fromhospital electronic records. Diagnosis of COVID-19 disease wasbased on the RTPCR for SARS-COV-2 virus. Lymphocyte subsetswere determined using flowcytometry in COVID-19 patients onadmission to COVID ward. The variation in the baseline lymphocytesubsets according to the severity and outcome of the disease wasanalyzed.Result: Patients who died of COVID-19 disease had higher mean Blymphocytes and NK cells than the survivors but was not statisticallysignificant. T lymphocyte counts and CD8 + T cell counts showedstatistically significant (p< 0.05) reduction in patients who expiredthan who survived COVID-19 disease.Conclusions: We concluded that low CD8 + T cell counts atadmission may be predictive of patient outcomes in COVID-19.