RUDN scientists found out a possible mechanism for a significant reduction in the number of lymphocytes in patients with COVID-19. This state of the deficit of immune cells is called lymphocytone and is responsible for the reduced protection of the body against infection. This is reported in a press release published on the Soluki website.rf.
Researchers estimated the viral load and the spread of SARS-COV-2 coronavirus in the lungs, lymph nodes and spleen in 36 patients who died from COVID-19 associated with lymphocytone. 63.8 percent of the dead observed the number of lymphocytes below the critical value.
In 33 percent, the virus was found in the lungs, and the cell condition indicated the bronchopneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome under the recovery of lung tissues while maintaining respiratory failure. In 58.4 percent of patients, the virus was also found in the lungs, lymph nodes and spleen. It corresponded to the phase of damage to pulmonary capillaries and alveols, gas exchange is disturbed.
Scientists also showed that SARS-COV-2 viruses can directly infect lymphocytes and may cause the development of lymphocytopenia due to the destruction of immune cells. Such a process was described in SARS-COV and MERS-COV infections.