loading page

Decreased CD4 and CD8 count are responsible for severity of COVID-19 infection
  • +3
  • Yasir Ishaq,
  • Muhammad Omar Malik,
  • Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai,
  • Maria Qubtia,
  • Imran Ullah Khan,
  • Awal Mir
Yasir Ishaq
Khyber Medical University
Author Profile
Muhammad Omar Malik
Khyber Medical University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai
Khyber Medical University
Author Profile
Maria Qubtia
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
Author Profile
Imran Ullah Khan
Rehman Medical Institute
Author Profile
Awal Mir
Rehman Medical Institute
Author Profile

Abstract

Background: T-cell immunity is essential to effectively combat the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). In this research, the absolute T-cell CD4 and CD8 counts by flow cytometry were measured and the CD4:CD8 ratio in COVID-19 infected individuals was assessed. This investigation will help researchers to better understand the immune reaction to COVID-19 infection leading to improved medical and diagnostic outcomes. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 26 critically sick and 26 non-critically sick COVID-19 individuals of comparable age and sex. Absolute WBC count, absolute lymphocyte count, and platelet count were checked and flow cytometry was performed to calculate the absolute CD4 and CD8 T cells counts. Results: The critically ill COVID-19 patients were older (p<0.001) than non-critically sick COVID-19 individuals. In patients who got critically ill, absolute lymphocyte count (p=0.004), absolute CD4 count (p=0.002) and absolute CD8 counts (p=0.014) were low. However, the CD4:CD8 ratio did not differ substantially across the groups (p=0.538). The two groups did not differ in terms of gender. Absolute monocyte count (p=0.01) and absolute eosinophil count (p=0.01) were reduced significantly in critically sick patients as compared to non-critically sick COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: When compared to COVID-19 patients who weren’t in critical condition, the absolute lymphocyte count, CD4 count, and CD8 count of critically sick COVID-19 patients were significantly lower. This revealed that the lack of adequate cellular immune responses in critically sick COVID-19 patients may be the cause of the disease severity.