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. 2017 Jun;39(3):272-278.
doi: 10.1111/ijlh.12620. Epub 2017 Apr 26.

Hematologic, hepatic, and renal function changes in hospitalized patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

J A Al-Tawfiq  1   2 , K Hinedi  1 , S Abbasi  1 , M Babiker  1 , A Sunji  1 , M Eltigani  1
Affiliations

Hematologic, hepatic, and renal function changes in hospitalized patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

J A Al-Tawfiq et al. Int J Lab Hematol. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Background: There are no longitudinal data on the changes in hematologic, hepatic, and renal function findings in patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 16 MERS-CoV patients, to describe the hematological, hepatic, and renal findings of patients with MERS-CoV.

Results: During the 21 days of observation, there was no significant change in the hepatic panel or creatinine tests. There was a significant increase in the mean ± SD of the white blood cell count from 8.3 ± 4.6 to 14.53 ± 7 (P value = 0.001) and an increase in mean ± SD of the absolute neutrophil count from 6.33 ± 4.2 to 12 ± 5.5 (P value = 0.015). Leukocytosis was observed in 31% (5/16) of the patients on day 1 and in 80% (4/5) on day 21. Transient leukopenia developed in 6% (1/16) of the patients on day 1 and in 13% (1/8) on day 8. None of the patients had neutropenia. Lymphopenia was a prominent feature with a rate of 44% (7/16) of the patients on day 1 and 60% (3/5) on day 21. Lymphocytosis was not a feature of MERS-CoV infection. Thrombocytopenia developed in 31% (5/16) of the patients on day 1 and 40% (2/5) on day 21. Thrombocytosis was not a prominent feature and was observed in 6% (1/16) of the patients on day 1 and 17% (1/6) on day 9.

Conclusions: Patients with MERS-CoV infection showed variable hematologic parameters over time. Lymphocytosis and neutropenia were not features of MERS-CoV infection.

Keywords: Middle East respiratory syndrome; biochemical characteristics; hematologic changes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An error bar indicating the mean ± standard deviation of daily white blood cell count (×109/L). [Colour figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com].
Figure 2
Figure 2
An error bar indicating the mean ± standard deviation indicating daily absolute neutrophil (PMN) count (×109/L). [Colour figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com].
Figure 3
Figure 3
An error bar indicating the mean ± standard deviation indicating daily absolute lymphocyte count (×109/L). [Colour figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com].
Figure 4
Figure 4
An error bar indicating the mean ± standard deviation indicating daily platelet count (×109/L). [Colour figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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