T-cell lymphocytopenia: An omnipresent predictor of morbidity and mortality in consequence of SARS-CoV disease and influenza A infections

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: We proposed T-cell lymphocytopenia as a strategic predictor of serious coronavirus and influenza infections. Our preeminent goal was to determine whether a degree of T-cell lymphopenia would identify a distinct threshold cell count to differentiate between severe and non-severe infections. We codified an Index Severity Score to exploit an association between T-cell cytopenia and the grade of disease activity. PRINCIPAL RESULT: A T-cell count of 560 cells/uL or below signified a trend towards advanced disease. KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1.).. The T-cell threshold > 560 cells/uL discriminated 85.7 % specificity of the lesser viral infections and <=560 cells/uL identified 100 % sensitivity of severe infections or death. (2.).. The positive predictive value of this threshold test was 92.9 %. (3.).. T-cell apoptosis and sequestration are two of the primary mechanisms of T-cell lymphodepletion. (4.).. There is potential for the T-cell threshold at <=560 cells/uL to become a standard to differentiate disease severity. (5.).. The T-cell threshold should be tested further against flow cytometry of CD4+, CD8+ counts of individual patients. (6.).. Future research should explore correlations between the T-cell threshold, medical outcomes of treatment, Cytokine Release Syndromes, cytokine levels, inflammatory and coagulation markers.