Eosinopenia <100/μL as a marker of active COVID-19: An observational prospective study

• Published in: Journal of microbiology, immunology and infection immunology and infection, 2021-02, Vol.54 (1), p.61-68
• Main Authors: Outh, Roderau, Boutin, Caroline, Gueudet, Philippe, Suzuki, Marcelino, Saada, Matthieu, Aumaître, Hugues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Cell Count; COVID-19; COVID-19 - blood; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19 Testing - methods; Eosinopenia; Eosinophils; Eosinophils - pathology; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytes; Leukocytes - pathology; Life Sciences; Male; Marker; Middle Aged; Original; Prospective Studies; ROC Curve; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 1684-1182; 1995-9133
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.12.005

To analyse the diagnostic performance of eosinopenia, alone or combined with polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and/or lymphocytes, as a marker of active COVID-19 in patients hospitalized for suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A prospective observational study including patients hospitalized for suspicion of COVID-19 in a COVID unit was performed from 20th March to 5th April 2020, in Perpignan, France. Patients for which there was a doubt upon diagnosis, who were recently under oral corticosteroids, had myeloid malignancy or human immunodeficient virus infection were excluded. SARS-CoV-2 detection was performed using an RT-PCR assay, from nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Complete blood count were performed for all patients. One-hundred and twenty-one patient were included: 57 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, 64 patients were not. Eosinophil count was lower in the COVID-19 group (median: 0/μL versus 70/μL, p