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Immunosuppression and cardiovascular dysfunction in patients with severe versus mild coronavirus disease 2019: a case

Hejing Bao1, Gang Li1, Yinhua Fang2

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology Department of Medical Oncology Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital/Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital Chongqing China.

Clinical & Translational Immunology
|October 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts the immune and cardiovascular systems, causing spleen shrinkage and lymphopenia. Severe COVID-19 patients experienced more splenic shrinkage and immune dysfunction, contributing to higher mortality risks.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitates understanding its systemic effects beyond pulmonary manifestations.
  • Immune and cardiovascular system alterations are suspected in COVID-19 pathogenesis, but detailed comparisons between disease severities are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe and compare changes in the immune and cardiovascular systems of patients with mild versus severe COVID-19.
  • To analyze these changes at different time points during the disease course.

Main Methods:

  • One hundred and one COVID-19 patients were enrolled.
  • Serial peripheral blood collection and chest computed tomography (CT) imaging were performed.
  • Patients were grouped by illness severity, and immune/cardiovascular system changes were analyzed and compared.

Main Results:

  • Spleen shrinkage was observed in 27.7% of patients, with severe cases showing more significant splenic volume reduction compared to mild cases.
  • Lymphopenia affected 65.3% of patients, with 27.3% exhibiting persistent low lymphocyte levels post-discharge.
  • Cardiovascular issues included tachycardia in early hospitalization, elevated creatine kinase-myocardial band levels in 9.9%, and arrhythmias in 15.8% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, including the immune and cardiovascular systems, not just the lungs.
  • Evidence of immunosuppression and cardiovascular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients may correlate with increased mortality, particularly in severe cases.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID‐19SARS‐CoV‐2cardiovascular dysfunctionimmunologyimmunosuppressionimmunotherapy

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