Clinical Progression and Cytokine Profiles of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection

Kim, Eu Suk; Choe, Pyoeng Gyun; Park, Wan Beom; Oh, Hong Sang; Kim, Eun Jung; Nam, Eun Young; Na, Sun Hee; Kim, Moonsuk; Song, Kyoung-Ho; Bang, Ji Hwan; Park, Sang Won; Kim, Hong Bin; Kim, Nam Joong; Oh, Myoung-don

Laboratory changes are shown in Fig. 1B to 1G and Supplementary Table 2 . The severe group had higher neutrophil counts during week 1 than the mild group (4,500 vs. 2,200/µL, P = 0.026) (Fig. 1B) . There was overall lymphopenia and it was marked (lymphocyte counts less than 1,000/µL) from the mid-first week to the mid-third week (Fig. 1C) . Platelet counts below 100,000/µL rarely developed in both severe and mild groups, and there were no clinically significant abnormalities in coagulation panel (prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time) (Fig. 1D and 1E). Hypoalbuminemia developed in second week especially in severe group (Fig. 1F) . The median lowest level of serum albumin was significantly low in severe group (2.1 g/dL in severe group and 3.4 g/dL in mild group, P = 0.001). Two patients (Patient B and E) had elevated serum creatinine level. Patient B had no underlying disease such as diabetes, hypertension or chronic renal disease. He did not receive any nephrotoxic drugs. Patient E had metastatic bladder cancer and her renal failure was due to metastatic urinary obstruction.