Integral leukocgram indices in children with coronavirus infection COVID-19

Objective. To study the changes in hematological leukocyte indices among children with coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the dynamics of infectious process.

Materials and methods. The work is based on the analysis of clinical and laboratory data from 91 pediatric patients with COVID-19. On the basis of a general blood test, the following hematological leukocyte indices were determined: the entropy degree of leukogram according to A.V. Gorelov et al.; leukocyte intoxication index according to V.K. Ostrovsky; nuclear endotoxicosis degree index according to G.D. Dashtayants; Harkavi adaptation index; Krebs index; leukocyte index; neutrophils to monocytes ratio index; lymphocytes to monocytes ratio index.

Results. The most sensitive hematological indices were the entropy degree of leukogram according to A.V. Gorelov et al., indicating a violation of the dynamic constancy of leukogram; neutrophils to monocytes ratio indices, lymphocytes to monocytes ratio indices, showing the presence of a viral infection. At the peak of the infectious process, C-reactive blood protein index significantly correlated with the endotoxicosis index according to G.D. Dashtayants (R = –0.271; p≤0.05), with neutrophils to monocytes ratio index (R = 0.276; p≤0.05); and in the period of early convalescence - with leukocyte intoxication index according to V.K. Ostrovsky (R = 0.743; p≤0.05), with endotoxicosis indices according to Dashtayants (R = –0.785; p≤0.05) and neutrophils to monocytes ratio index (R = 0.743; p≤0.05).

Conclusions. The calculation of hematological leukocyte indices increases the information capability of the general blood test in children with coronavirus infection COVID-19, provides important additional information on intoxication syndrome, the state of immune response, the persistence of inflammatory process during the period of convalescence as well.