open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)
Original article
Submitted: 2022-10-31
Accepted: 2022-12-06
Published online: 2022-12-28
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Haematological changes in sailors who had COVID-19

Oleksandr Ignatyev1, Oleksii Panyita1, Tetiana Prutiian1, Pavel Kostromin2
·
Pubmed: 36583404
·
IMH 2022;73(4):178-180.
Affiliations
  1. Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine
  2. Medical Centre “Vivamed”, Odesa, Ukraine

open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)
MARITIME MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2022-10-31
Accepted: 2022-12-06
Published online: 2022-12-28

Abstract

Background: Follow-up of patients who had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proves that clinical symptoms persist for months after recovery. A complex of such persistent manifestations is defined as the post-COVID-19 syndrome. One of the criteria for post-COVID-19 syndrome may be typical changes in white blood cell count and white blood cell (WBC) differential. The aim of the work is to study the frequency of haematological changes in sailors who had the acute coronavirus infection. Materials and methods: The retrospective study covered 30 candidate sailors aged 21 to 60 years with a history of COVID-19 and persistent changes in the WBC count and WBC differential and who did not have haematological abnormalities during the previous medical examinations. Results: Analysis of WBC and WBC count at the long-term period after COVID-19 confirmed persistent changes in the form of neutrophilia, lymphopenia, changes in the neutrophils and lymphocytes ratio. The revealed changes in the WBC count were typical and fit into several patterns: A. Absolute leukocytosis, absolute and relative neutrophilia, relative lymphopenia; B. Relative and absolute lymphopenia, relative neutrophilia; C. Relative and absolute lymphocytosis, relative neutropenia; D. Relative lymphopenia, without other changes in WBC differential. Conclusions: The most typical laboratory change in WBC count in patients with the past COVID-19 is relative or absolute leukopenia. Persistent changes in WBC count are not always outside of the reference range for absolute values and should be assessed by a complex of typical changes. The presence of typical changes in WBC count in a patient with the past COVID-19 requires a profound examination for the post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Follow-up of patients who had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proves that clinical symptoms persist for months after recovery. A complex of such persistent manifestations is defined as the post-COVID-19 syndrome. One of the criteria for post-COVID-19 syndrome may be typical changes in white blood cell count and white blood cell (WBC) differential. The aim of the work is to study the frequency of haematological changes in sailors who had the acute coronavirus infection. Materials and methods: The retrospective study covered 30 candidate sailors aged 21 to 60 years with a history of COVID-19 and persistent changes in the WBC count and WBC differential and who did not have haematological abnormalities during the previous medical examinations. Results: Analysis of WBC and WBC count at the long-term period after COVID-19 confirmed persistent changes in the form of neutrophilia, lymphopenia, changes in the neutrophils and lymphocytes ratio. The revealed changes in the WBC count were typical and fit into several patterns: A. Absolute leukocytosis, absolute and relative neutrophilia, relative lymphopenia; B. Relative and absolute lymphopenia, relative neutrophilia; C. Relative and absolute lymphocytosis, relative neutropenia; D. Relative lymphopenia, without other changes in WBC differential. Conclusions: The most typical laboratory change in WBC count in patients with the past COVID-19 is relative or absolute leukopenia. Persistent changes in WBC count are not always outside of the reference range for absolute values and should be assessed by a complex of typical changes. The presence of typical changes in WBC count in a patient with the past COVID-19 requires a profound examination for the post-COVID-19 syndrome.

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Keywords

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), post-COVID syndrome, lymphopenia, sailors

About this article
Title

Haematological changes in sailors who had COVID-19

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)

Article type

Original article

Pages

178-180

Published online

2022-12-28

Page views

3443

Article views/downloads

384

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2022.0031

Pubmed

36583404

Bibliographic record

IMH 2022;73(4):178-180.

Keywords

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
post-COVID syndrome
lymphopenia
sailors

Authors

Oleksandr Ignatyev
Oleksii Panyita
Tetiana Prutiian
Pavel Kostromin

References (3)
  1. Frater JL, Zini G, d'Onofrio G, et al. COVID-19 and the clinical hematology laboratory. Int J Lab Hematol. 2020; 42 Suppl 1(Suppl 1): 11–18.
  2. Davis HE, Assaf GS, McCorkell L, et al. Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impact. EClinicalMedicine. 2021; 38: 101019.
  3. Lopez-Leon S, Wegman-Ostrosky T, Perelman C, et al. More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1): 16144.

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