The difference of immunology index between SARS patients of mild type and severe type

Objective To study the difference of immunology index between severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients of mild type and severe type. Methods White blood cell(WBC) count, lymphocyte count, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte count, level of C3, C4, ESR and CRP from 1291 patients with SARS in each week since onset of illness were recorded, the clinical progression of each sign was analyzed and difference between mild type and severe type were compared. Results Lymphocyte count and CD8+ T lymphocyte count declined in first and second weeks and recovered from the third week, while CRP and C4 level rised in the first week and then gradually recovered. In severe type, lymphocyte count and CD8+T lymphocyte count were much lower than that of mild type (P0.01), while CRP and C4 level in severe type were much higher than that of mild type (P0.01). Conclusion Lymphocyte count, CD8+ T lympocyte count, CRP and C4 level are useful information for the diagnosis of SARS of severe type and the evaluation of severity.