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Lymphocyte subsets in 32 patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
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  • Magdalena Okarska-Napierała,
  • Joanna Mańdziuk,
  • Wojciech Feleszko,
  • Anna Stelmaszczyk-Emmel,
  • Mariusz Panczyk,
  • Urszula Demkow,
  • Ernest Kuchar
Magdalena Okarska-Napierała
Medical University of Warsaw

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Joanna Mańdziuk
Medical University of Warsaw
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Wojciech Feleszko
Medical University of Warsaw
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Anna Stelmaszczyk-Emmel
Medical University of Warsaw
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Mariusz Panczyk
Medical University of Warsaw
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Urszula Demkow
Medical University of Warsaw
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Ernest Kuchar
Medical University of Warsaw
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lymphopenia is a hallmark of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We aimed to characterize lymphocyte subsets’ shifts and their correlations with other severity markers of MIS-C. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we performed peripheral lymphocyte phenotyping in 32 patients with MIS-C. We analyzed lymphocyte subsets at three time-points of the disease: the acute (A), convalescent (B), and recovery (C) phases. Based on age-normalized lymphocyte counts, we distinguished two groups of patients: “the mild” and “the severe”. In addition, we examined differences between these groups regarding other severity markers. RESULTS: In phase A, 84% of children had lymphopenia. Decreased absolute counts of CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells were observed in, respectively, 88%, 72%, and 84% of patients. The natural killer cells were decreased in 63% and CD19 in 59% of children. “The severe” group had significantly higher procalcitonin and troponin I levels and lower platelets and albumin. Moreover, “the severe” group had hypotension more frequently (73% vs. 20%, p=0.008). In phase B, all lymphocyte counts increased, and 32% of children had lymphocytosis. The increase of CD3, CD4, and CD8 counts correlated with some laboratory severity markers (hemoglobin, procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, albumin), but not with steroid use. In phase C, most children had normal lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial shifts in lymphocyte counts during MIS-C apply most to T lymphocytes and correlate with the disease severity markers, particularly hypotension prevalence. A proportion of children with MIS-C develops transient lymphocytosis during convalescence.
27 May 2021Submitted to Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
31 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Jul 20211st Revision Received
16 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Accept