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Descriptive, Retrospective Study of the Clinical Characteristics of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients
mSphere ( IF 4.8 ) Pub Date : 2020-10-07 , DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00922-20 Huan Han 1 , Zaichao Xu 2, 3 , Xiaoming Cheng 4 , Youquan Zhong 2, 3 , Li Yuan 5 , Fubing Wang 5 , Yan Li 6 , Fang Liu 7 , Yingan Jiang 8 , Chengliang Zhu 9 , Yuchen Xia 3, 10
mSphere ( IF 4.8 ) Pub Date : 2020-10-07 , DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00922-20 Huan Han 1 , Zaichao Xu 2, 3 , Xiaoming Cheng 4 , Youquan Zhong 2, 3 , Li Yuan 5 , Fubing Wang 5 , Yan Li 6 , Fang Liu 7 , Yingan Jiang 8 , Chengliang Zhu 9 , Yuchen Xia 3, 10
Affiliation
Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, it has rapidly spread around the world. Persons with asymptomatic disease exhibit viral shedding, resulting in transmission, which presents disease control challenges. However, the clinical characteristics of these asymptomatic individuals remain elusive. We collected samples of 25 asymptomatic and 27 symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Viral titers of throat swabs were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). COVID-19 IgG and IgM were examined. Complete blood counts were determined, and serum biochemistry panels were performed. Cytokines, including gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were evaluated. T cell, B cell, and NK cell counts were measured using flow cytometry. Although similar viral loads were detected, asymptomatic patients had significantly faster virus turnover than symptomatic patients. Additionally, asymptomatic patients had higher counts of lymphocytes, T cells, B cells, and NK cells. While liver damage was observed in symptomatic patients, as indicated by elevated liver enzymes and decreased liver-synthesized proteins in the blood, asymptomatic patients showed normal liver measurements. Lactate dehydrogenase, a COVID-19 risk factor, was significantly lower in asymptomatic patients. These results suggest that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients had normal clinical indicators and faster viral clearance than symptomatic patients. Lymphocytes may play a role in their asymptomatic phenotype. Since asymptomatic patients may be a greater risk of virus transmission than symptomatic patients, public health interventions and a broader range of testing may be necessary for the control of COVID-19.
更新日期：2020-10-07
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