Role of eosinophils in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of COVID‐19

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, which has severely affected global public health security. However, the diagnosis and treatment of the disease need further exploration. Therefore, this retrospective analysis was conducted on multiple indicators of peripheral blood in patients with COVID-19 to determine the role of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of COVID-19. Baseline information and clinical records of 40 patients were collected, including demographic data, disease status, medication, and laboratory routine. The correlation between the inspection indicators and disease classification, as well as prognostic factors, was analyzed. Decreased eosinophils were detected in 33 out of 40 patients with COVID-19 on admission, while lymphocytes and eosinophils were inversely related to the severity of the disease, according to the Spearman's correlation coefficient. Thus, it could be deduced that eosinophils have better sensitivity for the diagnosis of COVID-19 and play a major role similar to lymphocytes in assessing the prognosis of patients.

Coronavirus infection: An immunologists' perspective

“…[103][104][105][106] One of the remarkable yet partially explored findings in leukocyte analysis of SARS-CoV-2 patients is the marked decrease in the haemogram's eosinophil cell population. 107,108 The reduction in eosinophil number has not been analysed thoroughly. Eosinophils do not seem to be openly involved in human response to respiratory viruses as in other animal species; consequently, they are not considered to be directly involved in SARS pathogenesis.…”

“…Eosinophils do not seem to be openly involved in human response to respiratory viruses as in other animal species; consequently, they are not considered to be directly involved in SARS pathogenesis. 107,108 Since in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, there is no exacerbation of atopic disease, many researchers discarded its role in the viral infection. 107 However, the number of circulating eosinophils was a significant factor associated with a subprophylactic amount of anti-factor Xa inhibitor, 109 suggesting that these cells may be involved in tissue destruction or remodelling as a result of the viral infection.…”

“…107,108 Since in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, there is no exacerbation of atopic disease, many researchers discarded its role in the viral infection. 107 However, the number of circulating eosinophils was a significant factor associated with a subprophylactic amount of anti-factor Xa inhibitor, 109 suggesting that these cells may be involved in tissue destruction or remodelling as a result of the viral infection. Several drugs used to decrease eosinophil migration to the airways in asthma may be useful as palliative treatment in this viral infection.…”

“…One of the remarkable yet partially explored findings in leukocyte analysis of SARS‐CoV‐2 patients is the marked decrease in the haemogram's eosinophil cell population 107,108 . The reduction in eosinophil number has not been analysed thoroughly.…”

“…The reduction in eosinophil number has not been analysed thoroughly. Eosinophils do not seem to be openly involved in human response to respiratory viruses as in other animal species; consequently, they are not considered to be directly involved in SARS pathogenesis 107,108 . Since in SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected patients, there is no exacerbation of atopic disease, many researchers discarded its role in the viral infection 107 .…”