Eosinophil: A Nonnegligible Predictor in COVID-19 Re-Positive Patients

Análisis del perfil hematológico de los pacientes con la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)

Objetivos

Se han propuesto varios parámetros hematológicos como marcadores de gravedad de la COVID-19. Aún no se han realizado estudios en Makassar (Indonesia), para evaluar potenciales diferencias en el perfil hematológico de los pacientes según la gravedad de la enfermedad y las comorbilidades que presentan. Así mismo, tampoco se ha estudiado la correlación entre perfil hematológico y umbral de número de ciclos (Ct). El objetivo de este estudio es investigar posibles diferencias en el perfil hematológico de los pacientes con COVID-19 según la gravedad de la enfermedad y sus comorbilidades, así como determinar la posible correlación entre el perfil hematológico y el Ct en estos pacientes.

Métodos

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo transversal de pacientes con COVID-19 hospitalizados en el hospital del Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo en Makassar entre junio y agosto de 2020. Los datos sobre el perfil hematológico, niveles de Ct, comorbilidades y gravedad de la COVID-19 se extrajeron de la base de datos del hospital.

Resultados

De los 217 pacientes, 102 (47%) eran hombres, frente a 115 (53%) mujeres. El número de pacientes con enfermedad leve o moderada fue de 127 (58.5%) mientras que 90 pacientes presentaban enfermedad grave (41.5%). En total, 143 pacientes (65%) no tenían comorbilidades, mientras que 74 pacientes (35%) sí las tenían. La amplitud de la distribución eritrocitaria, el recuento leucocitario, neutrófilos y monocitos, y la relación neutrófilos-linfocitos fueron significativamente superiores en los pacientes con enfermedad grave que en los que presentaban enfermedad leve o moderada (p<0,05). Así mismo, los pacientes graves presentaron un recuento de glóbulos rojos, hemoglobina, hematocrito, linfocitos y trombocitos significativamente inferior al de los pacientes con enfermedad leve o moderada. No se observaron diferencias significativas en el perfil hematológico según las comorbilidades, ni correlación alguna entre este y los niveles de Ct, excepto para el recuento de eosinófilos (r=0,161; p=0,018).

Conclusiones

Nuestra hipótesis era que el perfil hematológico podría predecir la gravedad de la enfermedad en pacientes con COVID-19. Además, el recuento de eosinófilos debería tenerse en cuenta a la hora de predecir la infectividad de un paciente con COVID-19.

Hematology profile analysis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients

Objectives

Some hematological parameters were reported as markers to assess severity of COVID-19 patients. Comorbidities were risk factors for severe COVID-19. Differences in hematology profile based on severity and comorbidity, and correlation between hematology profile and Ct value were never studied at Makassar, Indonesia. The aim of this study were to know the differences of hematology profile based on severity and comorbidity, and the correlation between hematology profile and Ct value in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

This study was retrospective, cross-sectional of confirmed COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalized at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital, Makassar, since June to August 2020. Hematology profile, Ct value, comorbidity, and severity of COVID-19 patients were obtained from Hospital Information System Data.

Results

From 217 patients, subjects were 102 (47%) male dan 115 (53%) female, 127 mild-moderate patients (58.5%) and 90 severe patients (41.5%), 143 patients (65%) without comorbidity, 74 patients (35%) with comorbidity. White blood cells (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil and monocyte count, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were significantly higher in severe patients than mild-moderate patients (p<0.05), besides RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocyte and thrombocyte count were significantly lower in severe patients than mild-moderate patients (p<0.05). Hematology profile was not different significantly based on comorbidity and was not correlated significantly with Ct value, except eosinophil count (r=0.161; p=0.018).

Conclusions

We suggest that hematology profile could predict the severity of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, eosinophil count could be considered to predict the infectivity of patient with COVID-19.

Exacerbation of bronchiectasis by Pseudomonas putida complicating COVID-19 disease: A case report

Novel coronavirus infection presents with greater severity in individuals with comorbid chronic lung diseases. Bronchiectasis is an illness characterized by permanent enlargement of the airways, presenting with chronic cough and sputum production and vulnerability to lung infections. Bronchiectasis is not a common comorbid disease in patients with COVID-19 disease and bronchiectasis exacerbation rates were decreased during the pandemic. However, COVID-19 disease is associated with worse outcomes in patients with bronchiectasis and patients with bronchiectasis are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection development. Pseudomonas putida is an opportunistic pathogen, causing infections mostly in immunocompromised hosts and is not a frequent bacterial colonizer in patients with bronchiectasis. This present study reports a rare case of exacerbation of bronchiectasis by Pseudomonas putida complicating COVID-19 disease in an immunocompetent 70-year-old woman. Clinicians should be aware that SARS-CoV-2 infection is probably a precipitating factor of bronchiectasis exacerbation while bronchiectasis is a risk factor for greater severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Extracellular Vesicles as Natural Delivery Carriers Regulate Oxidative Stress Under Pathological Conditions

Extracellular vesicles are cellular secretory particles that can be used as natural drug delivery carriers. They have successfully delivered drugs including chemotherapeutics, proteins, and genes to treat various diseases. Oxidative stress is an abnormal physiological phenomenon, and it is associated with nearly all diseases. In this short review, we summarize the regulation of EVs on oxidative stress. There are direct effects and indirect effects on the regulation of oxidative stress through EVs. On the one hand, they can deliver antioxidant substances or oxides to recipient cells, directly relieving or aggravating oxidative stress. On the other hand, regulate factors of oxidative stress-related signaling pathways can be delivered to recipient cells by the mediation of EVs, realizing the indirect regulation of oxidative stress. To the best of our knowledge, however, only endogenous drugs have been delivered by EVs to regulate oxidative stress till now. And the heterogeneity of EVs may complicate the regulation of oxidative stress. Therefore, this short review aims to draw more attention to the EVs-based regulation of oxidative stress, and we hope excellent EVs-based delivery carriers that can deliver exogenous drugs to regulate oxidative stress can be exploited.