Author(s)

Amra Ziadi¹, Abdelhamid Hachimi^2*, Raja Hazime³, Imane Brahim³, Brahim Admou³, Fouzia Douirek¹, Ahmed R. El Adib⁴, Said Younous⁴, Abdenasser M. Samkaoui¹

¹Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, Arrazi Hospital, Mohammed VI^th University Centre, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
²Medical Intensive Care Unit, Arrazi Hospital, Mohammed VI^th University Centre, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
³Laboratory of Immunology, Centre of Clinical Research, Mohammed VI^th University Centre, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Mo-rocco.
⁴Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, Child and Mother Hospital, Mohammed VI^th University Centre, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.

Background: The alteration of lymphocyte subpopulations can help to predict the severity and the prognosis of severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our goal was to describe the kinetics of lymphocyte subsets, and their impact on the severity and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: We collected demographic data, comorbidities, clinical signs on admission, laboratory findings on admission then a follow-up during hospitalization. Lymphocyte subsets including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells were counted by flow cytometer. Results: On admission, we observed lymphopenia in 57% of cases, decreased CD3+ T cells in 76% of cases, decreased CD4+ T cells in 81% of cases, decreased CD8+ T cells in 62% of cases, decreased B cells in 52% of cases, and decreased natural killer (NK) cells in 33% of cases. After treatment, decreased CD3+ T cells, decreased CD4+ T cells, decreased CD8+ T cells, and decreased natural killer cells were predictor factors of mortality, in the univariable analysis. Conclusion: CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells were predictor factors of severity, ICU mortality, and also a useful tool for predicting disease progression.

SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus Disease 2019, Lymphocyte Subsets, Critical Care Outcomes

Ziadi, A. , Hachimi, A. , Hazime, R. , Brahim, I. , Admou, B. , Douirek, F. , El Adib, A. , Younous, S. and Samkaoui, A. (2020) COVID-19: Lymphocyte Subpopulations Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients. International Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11, 465-473. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2020.118039.