Kinetic changes in virology, specific antibody response and imaging during the clinical course of COVID-19: a descriptive study

Abstract

Background To explore the kinetic changes in virology, specific antibody response and imaging during the clinical course of COVID-19. Methods This observational study enrolled 20 patients with COVID-19, who were hospitalized between January 20–April 6, 2020, in the two COVID-19 designated hospitals of Zhoushan, Zhejiang and Rushan, Shandong, China, The laboratory findings, imaging, serum response to viral infection, and viral RNA level in the throat and stool samples were assessed from onset to recovery phase in patients with COVID-19. Results SARS-COV-2 RNA was positive as early as day four. It remained positive until day 55 post-onset in the sputum-throat swabs and became negative in most cases (55%) within 14 days after onset. Lymphocytopenia occurred in 40% (8/20) of patients during the peak infection period and returned to normal at week five. The most severe inflammation in the lungs appeared in week 2 or 3 after onset, and this was completely absorbed between week 6 and 8 in 85.7% of patients. All patients had detectable antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD), and 95% of these patients had IgG to viral N proteins. The antibody titer peaked at week four. Anti-S IgM was positive in 7 of 20 patients after week three. Conclusions All COVID-19 patients in this study were self-limiting and recovered well though it may take as long as 6–8 weeks. Our findings on the kinetic changes in imaging, serum response to viral infection and viral RNA level may help understand pathogenesis and define clinical course of COVID-19.

Frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of hospital readmissions of COVID-19 patients

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Viral Kinetics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019

“…Wang et al reported that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was maintained for 42 days in pharyngeal and sputum samples ( 3 ). In the case of patients in our hospital, viral shedding was maintained until the 18th day from symptom onset in the mildly affected group, and shedding continued until the 33rd day from symptom onset in the severely affected group.…”

The therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells in reducing cardiovascular complications in patients with severe COVID-19

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