Peripheral blood lymphopenia and neutrophilia in children with severe respiratory syncytial virus disease

• Published in: Pediatric pulmonology Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 128 - 130
• Main Authors: O'Donnell, Diarmuid R., Carrington, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-08-2002; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Age Factors; apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infectious diseases; Leukocyte Count; Leukocyte Disorders - blood; Leukocyte Disorders - etiology; Leukocyte Disorders - immunology; lymphocyte; lymphopenia; Lymphopenia - blood; Lymphopenia - etiology; Lymphopenia - immunology; measles; Measles - blood; Measles - complications; Measles - immunology; Medical sciences; Neutrophils - immunology; Regression Analysis; respiratory syncytial virus; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - blood; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - complications; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections - immunology; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; T cells; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Human; Human respiratory syncytial virus; Leukopenia; Pneumovirinae; Pathophysiology; Respiratory disease; Exploration; Hemopathy; Paramyxoviridae; Bronchiolitis; Infection; Virus; Mononegavirales; Viral disease; Bronchus disease; Severity score; Neutrophil; Pneumovirus; Child; Lymphocytopenia
• ISSN: 8755-6863; 1099-0496
• DOI: 10.1002/ppul.10140

It is not known why respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with prolonged sequelae in many children. Measles virus (also a paramyxovirus), acute stress in sepsis, and cardiac bypass all cause lymphopenia.
Using a retrospective analysis of records of children in Bristol with RSV infections over 5 years, we found that children with RSV had lower lymphocyte counts than unstressed, stable children prior to cardiac surgery. Children who required intensive care had the lowest lymphocyte counts. Neutrophil counts were raised in RSV‐infected children.
These data may offer an insight into pathological mechanisms, and suggest new research avenues. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 34:128–130. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.