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Journal of Clinical Medicine Research

Original Article

Volume 12, Number 9, September 2020, pages 590-597

A Controllable Inflammatory Response and Temporary Abnormal Coagulation in Moderate Disease of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 [1, 2], and now spread all over the world. Its infection in human mainly appears as acute respiratory syndrome, sometimes along with digestive and nervous disorders [3, 4]. The outbreak of this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Globally, as of June 28, 2020, there have been 9,843,073 confirmed cases including 495,760 deaths [5].

A large cohort study showed the spectrum of COVID-19 that among 44,415 patients, 81% had mild symptom, 14% had severe disease, and 5% were in critical condition [6]. Naturally most studies about COVID-19 focus on the severe and critical cases, although more than 80% of COVID-19 patients show mild to moderate symptoms. It should be equally important to understand the average degree of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially if this virus would become another endemic virus in communities like the influenza virus.

Our study describes 107 patients that were admitted in a designated hospital in Wuhan, the Affiliated Hospital of Jianghan University (the sixth hospital of Wuhan city) during February and early March 2020. These patients showed moderate symptom of COVID-19, and were confirmed both by SARS-CoV-2 RNA test and chest radiography. And they were all discharged from hospital after recovery. The aim of our study is to clarify the characteristics of laboratory test index of COVID-19 patient with moderate symptoms during the first wave of the pandemic in Wuhan. These findings may help us extend our understanding of the pathogenicity in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This retrospective cohort study included adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jianghan University (the sixth hospital of Wuhan city) in Wuhan from February 1 to March 5, 2020. According to WHO interim guidance [7], 107 patients with moderate disease of COVID-19 on admission were enrolled in this study; they showed clinical signs of pneumonia (fever, cough, dyspnea, fast breathing) but no signs of severe pneumonia, including oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≥ 90% on room air. All the patients were confirmed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA test in respiratory secretions for twice, as well as by ground-glass opacities or bilateral pulmonary infiltration showed in chest computed tomography (CT) scan. During hospitalization, patients were kept in regular wards without intensive cares or invasive mechanical ventilation. They received supportive therapy, effective oxygen therapy, antiviral agent and, if necessary, antibiotics. Patients were discharged from hospital when the following criteria were met: body temperature normal for more than 3 days, respiratory symptoms significantly improved, pulmonary imaging significantly improved on CT scan, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA tests showed negative for twice. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Medicine of Jianghan University (Wuhan, China). This study was conducted in compliance with the ethical standards of the responsible institution on human subjects as well as with the Helsinki Declaration.

The laboratory tests including blood routine, biochemistry, coagulation parameters, and cardiac injury biomarkers were performed in patients on admission and during the hospitalization. The demographic and clinical information, laboratory results, and outcome data were finally collected from electronic medical records.

Continuous variables were expressed as median (interquartile range (IQR)) and compared with the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test between different age groups. A two-sided α of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS (version 19.0, IBM).

A total of 107 patients with moderate disease of COVID-19 were recruited. The demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients are shown in Table 1. Of these patients (62 females and 45 males), the median age at disease onset was 56 years (range: 20 - 92 years), with 40 patients (37%) older than 60 years. Most patients had fever (78.5%) and cough (58.9%) as their first symptoms; some also had asthenia (32.7%), shortness of breath (29.9%), sputum production (16.8%) and diarrhea (11.2%). As for the underlying diseases, hypertension (29%), heart disease (9.3%) and diabetes (5.6%) were the most common in medical histories of these patients. On admission, the vital signs of patients were also recorded. Notably, although the SpO₂ of all the patients were ≥ 90% at room air, 25% of patients were ≤ 93%. Patients received symptomatic and pneumonia treatments in hospital; and the median of their hospitalization were 16 days (IQR: 13 - 20).

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Table 1. Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients on Admission (N = 107)

The whole blood cell counting was monitored for all the patients on admission and during their hospitalization (median values showed in Table 2). The white blood cell counts were generally in the normal range, whereas 56% of patients (60 of 107 patients) showed lymphopenia (lymphocyte count < 1.1 × 10⁹/L, Table 2). Among patients showed lymphopenia, 57% (34 of 60) had a decrease by less than 30% (lymphocyte count > 0.8 × 10⁹/L; Fig. 1a) while 8% (five of 60) of them showed a decrease by more than 50% (lymphocyte count < 0.5 × 10⁹/L; Fig. 1a). Twenty-three percent (23 of 98) of patients (Table 2) still had lymphopenia when they were discharged from hospital, and the decrease was limited for most (Fig. 1a). The change of neutrophil count affects fewer patients on admission, 8% of (nine of 107) patients showed neutrophilia (neutrophil count > 6.3 × 10⁹/L, Table 2) and 12% (13 of 107) patients had neutropenia (neutrophil count < 3.5 × 10⁹/L, Table 2). However, neutrophil ratio was augmented in 26% (28 of 107) of patients (neutrophil ratio > 75%, Table 2), and the maximum increase was about 20%. This ratio appeared to be in the normal range for most patients at discharge. Therefore, the main change in white blood cell counts for patients with moderate COVID-19 was the decrease of lymphocyte. And as the health condition improved at discharge, lymphocyte count also gradually increased to normal level.

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Table 2. Summary of Laboratory Findings on Admission and at Discharge

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Figure 1. Illustration of percentage changes of laboratory index according to number of patients. Data are presented as number of patients that had changed level in laboratory assessments. (a) Decreased lymphocyte count on admission and at discharge. (b) Decreased hemoglobin level on admission and at discharge. (c) Increased CRP level on admission and at discharge. (d) Increased ESR level on admission and at discharge. (e) Increased fibrinogen level on admission and at discharge. (f) Increased D-dimer level on admission and at discharge. (g) Increased FDP level on admission and at discharge. In for the data collected on admission, out for data collected at discharge. CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; FDP: fibrinogen degradation product.

The data showed that more than 50% of all patients had declined level of red blood cell count (55 of 107), hemoglobin (52 of 107) and hematocrit (60 of 107) (Table 2); and four female patients were in severe condition (hemoglobin < 90 g/L, Fig. 1b). When discharged from hospital, 50% (45 of 98) of patients still had these decreases (Table 2). The four female patients mentioned above had their hemoglobin increased to over 90 g/L. However, one female of 70 years had less than 90 g/L hemoglobin and that was less than earlier result. Furthermore, there were five more male patients had hemoglobin declined at discharge (Fig. 1b). These results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection may be accompanied by oxygen transport defect in red blood cells.

As for the platelet counting on admission, 7% of patients (seven of 107) had decreased platelet level (platelet count < 125 × 10⁹/L, Table 2), and 15% (16 of 107) had increased level (platelet count > 350 × 10⁹/L, Table 2). At discharge, most patients showed platelet level in the normal range (Table 2).

Inflammatory biomarkers were also examined on admission and during hospitalization, such as erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT). For most patients, PCT levels were in the normal range (data not shown). For CRP, the median value was 16.3 mg/L (IQR: 2.9 - 62.7) among 105 patients on admission (Table 2), and patients older than 60 years had significantly higher level (Table 3). To be specific, CRP levels in serum were increased (CRP > 8 mg/L, Table 2) in 60% of patients (63 of 105), and 40% (42 of 105) showed an increase by more than 400% (CRP > 40 mg/L, Fig. 1c). At discharge, only 21% (18 of 87, Table 2) had elevated level of CRP, and the increased level did not exceed 40 mg/L except for one patient (Fig. 1c).

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Table 3. Statistically Significant Biomarkers on Admission and at Discharge With Different Ages

Levels of ESR were increased in 89% of patients (91 of 102, ESR > 20 mm/h, Table 2), and 59% (60 of 102, Fig. 1d) had an increase exceeding 50 mm/h. Similar to CRP, patients older than 60 years had statistically higher ESR level (Table 3). The median value of ESR on admission was 64 mm/h (IQR: 34.0 - 94.5), while the value improved to 50 mm/h (IQR: 24.0 - 80.0) at discharge (Table 2). There were still 36 patients had ESR level more than 50 mm/h in serum (Fig. 1d).

The coagulation parameters were examined on admission for 103 patients. Eighty percent of patients (82 of 103, Table 2) had normal serum levels of D-dimer on admission. Among the 20% of patients (21 of 103) who had increased D-dimer level (D-dimer > 1 mg/L, Table 2), eight showed an increase by more than 100% (D-dimer > 2mg/L, Fig. 1f). At discharge, 7% of patients (seven of 94) still had abnormal level of D-dimer, though the results were very close to the normal range. The fibrinogen level, on the other hand, had increased in 51% of patients (53 of 103, fibrinogen > 4 mg/L, Table 2) and decreased in 14% (14 of 103, fibrinogen < 2mg/L). Specifically, 10% patients (10 of 103) had an increase of fibrinogen level by more than 50% (fibrinogen > 6 mg/L, Fig. 1e), while most decreases were slight. Furthermore, when compared to patients younger than 45 years, fibrinogen level on admission was significantly higher in the patients older than 60 years (Table 3). At discharge, only seven patients still showed high level of fibrinogen (Fig. 1e). Fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) was also examined, and 41% of patients had elevated level (39 of 94, FDP > 3 mg/L, Table 2, Fig. 1g) on admission. Twenty-seven percent of patients (22 of 83) still showed increased amount of FDP at discharge (Table 2). Therefore, fibrinogen and FDP were the most altered parameters in coagulation function from our analysis.

Cardiac injury biomarkers were monitored for patients on admission. Among the 106 patients assessed, all had normal serum levels of high sensitive cardiac troponin L (hs-cTnL, < 0.1 ng/mL). The other cardiac biomarker examined was N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and 10% of patients (10 of 103) had elevated level (NT-proBNP > 1,800, 900, and 450 pg/mL according to age, Table 2) on admission, and 5% (five of 103) had an increase by more than 200%. At discharge, the NT-proBNP level had decreased into the normal range except two male patients. These two patients still had high level of NT-proBNP (more than 1,000 pg/mL), however, other cardiac biomarkers such as hs-cTnL and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were both in the normal range. Considering their history of hypertension, they were asked to reevaluate their heart function after the COVID-19.

As an emerging infectious disease, COVID-19 is now a worldwide challenge for public health. Among the 7 million patients, about 80% present mild to moderate disease, but studies dedicate to these patients are actually scarce. Therefore, we enrolled 107 adult patients with moderate disease of COVID-19 to elucidate the clinical manifestation and laboratory findings.

One of the risk factors of critical and mortal COVID-19 is male with older age [8]. Considering the not severe condition of disease, it is rational that female patients (58%) present more than male in this cohort. Previous studies have found comorbidity such as diabetes and hypertension, heart disease as other risk factors [9]. Similar to other study, 5.6% of patients had diabetes and 29% had hypertension. Similar to other studies in Asia [10, 11], patients mainly present fever (78.5%), cough (58.9%), asthenia (32.7%) and shortness of breath (29.9%). In Europe, however, a recent study showed that patients with mild to moderate disease mainly had headache, loss of smell, nasal obstruction and asthenia [12]. Considering the big differences, it is possible that olfactory dysfunction might be neglected during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Wuhan. Also, the virus is phylogenetically distinct from Asia (type B) to Europe (type C) [13], which could contribute to different clinical outcomes.

Through analysis of laboratory findings, we found that patients with moderate disease of COVID-19 had common characteristics on admission: normal or increased neutrophil ratio, low lymphocyte count, decreased hemoglobin level, increased inflammatory indicators (ESR and CRP); and some patients were complicated with coagulation disorder and myocardial damage. Since the outcome of this cohort is known as recovery and discharge from hospital, we also collected the last available laboratory results. Although all the patients met the discharge criteria for COVID-19, some still had abnormal laboratory findings. Especially, we found the levels of the inflammatory biomarker ESR were still elevated for half of the patients tested. Hence, patients were asked to go back to the hospital for follow-up examination including the virus RNA test, chest CT scan, blood routine, coagulation function and other biochemical indicators on both the 14th and 28th day after discharge.

Previous studies have found that white blood cell (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactose dehydrogenase (LDH), Cr, hs-cTnL, and D-dimer could indicate the progression of COVID-19 on admission, especially for the severe and mortal cases [3, 14, 15]. And in the moderate condition we analyzed, most patients had these indicators in the normal range. Therefore, our findings are consistent with other studies.

However, these biomarkers were not all specific to COVID-19. Similar to other virus infections including SARS [16] and H1N1 influenza [17], the neutrophil count was mostly normal in mild to moderate patients, while lymphocyte count was significantly decreased. As the major antiviral cells, lymphocyte count declined down to 0.27 × 10⁹/L in this cohort on admission. And after receiving antiviral and supportive treatment, the lymphocyte counts increased among all the patients at discharge. Previous study found that lymphocyte counts would continually decrease in severe and critical COVID-19 patients [4]. These results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection can suppress the level of lymphocyte. Therefore, closely monitoring lymphocyte counts could be one of the best methods when we evaluate the outcome of moderate patients.

The blood routine results also showed that about 50% of patients had low level of hemoglobin, red blood cell, and hematocrit, and the condition was not improved at discharge. Previous studies also reported that 51% of 99 patients had hemoglobin below the normal range [18], and the hemoglobin level of severe patients was lower, although the difference was not statistically significant [3]. There might be two explanations. First, the inflammatory state caused by infection may interfere with erythrocyte/bone marrow metabolism and iron regulation [19], and eventually result in a decline of hemoglobin and red blood cell. Second, patients could suffer from anemia for some time, and appear more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Once infected, however, correction of anemia could not benefit from all the symptoms of COVID-19 and psychological stresses. The decrease of functioning hemoglobin may contribute to hypoxia, and further aggravate the disease in severe cases.

Examination of inflammatory biomarkers found that PCT was in the normal range for moderate patients, while CRP and ESR were increased in 60% and 90% of patients on admission, respectively. Other studies including mild to moderate disease showed heterogeneous results [20], and found 33% (three of 10) or 100% (30 of 30) of patients had increased level of CRP [21, 22]. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection is involved with the disorder of inflammatory response. Furthermore, we find that the increase of both CRP and ESR were correlated with patient’s age, which may indicate that high inflammatory state and more severe pneumonia present more often in elderly people. In addition, the increase of CRP level was more transient, as it returned to normal range in most people when they were discharged from hospital. Nevertheless, it took more time for ESR to return to normal level, especially for patients older than 60 years. Certainly, elder people would need more time to recover and to metabolize the extra inflammatory biomarkers.

Abnormal coagulation condition is known as associated with poor prognosis of COVID-19. In particular, serum level of D-dimer and FDP were significantly higher in lethal cases [23]. Other coronavirus infection such as SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) showed similar increased coagulation activities in severe cases [24, 25]. The possible mechanism is that local inflammatory response induced by cytokine responses stimulates coagulation cascade and hemodynamic changes [26, 27]. In patients with moderate COVID-19, we found about 50%, 30% and 20% presented increased level in fibrinogen, FDP and D-dimer on admission, respectively. And when compared to young people, patients older than 60 years tend to have higher levels of these coagulation parameters. Certainly, the hemodynamics and endothelial conditions are more complicate in elder people. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the inflammatory response it induced could deteriorate the existed dysregulation. As the health condition improved at discharge, these parameters decreased to normal ranges for most patients. Yet again, patients over 60 years had significantly higher level of fibrin degradation products. In the meantime, we found that the platelet level had no obvious decrease in most patients with moderate disease. Therefore, as reported previously, thrombocytopenia happens more often in severe and critical patients [28], while abnormal coagulation condition is slight and temporary in moderate patients.

The receptor of SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is expressed in myocardial cells and vascular endothelial cells [29]. It is possible that heart dysfunction is directly targeted by virus infection, hence early evaluation and continued monitoring of cardiac damage are important [30]. We systematically examined the cardiac function biomarkers on admission. CK-MB and cTnL had no obvious change in these moderate patients, while about 10% of patients showed increased NT-proBNP. This percentage is much lower than previous reported 27.5% of the severe cases that had elevated NT-proBNP. Furthermore, we only found two patients still had NT-proBNP higher than normal range at discharge, indicating that moderate patients had little cardiac complication.

This study provides us more information about moderate COVID-19, but still has some limitations. First, this is a relatively small, single-center study. Second, due to the retrospective study design, a few laboratory tests were not done in all patients. In addition, several patients were hospitalized during a short period that some tests were not re-examined before they were discharged. Third, we do not possess any viral kinetic data in these patients, further studies are necessary to elucidate the correlation between viral load and laboratory changes.

In this ongoing pandemic, 40% of infected people showed moderate disease [7], it is important to understand more about this moderate spectrum of disease to settle into a long-term problem. We conducted a cohort study of 107 adult patients with moderate disease of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. Based on the clinical characteristics, we conclude that SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibits the immune system of patients, and induces a controllable inflammatory response in moderate COVID-19. Elderly patients have higher inflammatory state and more dysregulated coagulation condition. It is essential to closely assess their condition for a better clinical management.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (31670167), Hubei Province Department of Education Science and Technology Project (B2019232) and the Wuhan Municipal Education Bureau Project (2019003).

Financial Disclosure

There are no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no competing interests.

Informed Consent

All subjects provided written informed consent.

Author Contributions

YL, XZ and BS designed and performed the study. YL and BS drafted the manuscript and did critical editing. XZ and RG were involved in data collection; YL, JQ, QY, JS and WL analyzed the data. BS carefully supervised this manuscript preparation and writing.

Data Availability

All data used in the study are available from the corresponding author by request. Although some data confidential in nature may only be provided with restrictions

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