The number of T-lymphocytes (T-killers) in the blood of a patient infected with coronavirus infection is a biomarker that is able to predict the severity of the course of the disease at an early stage. It is reported by RIA Novosti, referring to the team research under the direction of Professor Burkhard Becher from the Institute of Experimental Immunology of the Surich University in collaboration with scientists from France and Germany.
Specialists found that the COVID-19 flow biomarker may be the number of natural T-lymphocytes (T-killers) in the blood. It is noted that these cells relate to the type of white blood cells and are part of an early immune response. According to researchers, a new test for biomarkers will help clinicians to make a decision on what type of treatment it is necessary to use a specific patient, and is it worth transferring infected into the intensive care unit.
Becher clarified that immune responses to various pneumonia are very similar and are part of the overall inflammatory response of the body. This is often observed in patients in the departments of intensive therapy. “However, when it comes to COVID-19, T cells and natural killer cells demonstrate a unique behavior and describe a kind of pattern in the immune system – an immune signature specific to COVID-19,” it added.
Previously, American doctors called factors that affect the course of diseases caused by coronavirus. Specialists rely on the statistics of patient surveys with COVID-19. Around half of 4103 cases, patients needed hospitalization, 650 people were aimed at intensive therapy or died. Scientists noticed that the signs of severe COVID-19 are an increase in the indicators of the C-reactive protein, d-dimer and ferritin.