Purpose Eosinopenia has been described in COVID-19. With this study, we aim to study the peripheral blood eosinophil counts in COVID-19 patients and to investigate whether there is an association... Show morePurpose Eosinopenia has been described in COVID-19. With this study, we aim to study the peripheral blood eosinophil counts in COVID-19 patients and to investigate whether there is an association between the peripheral blood eosinophil counts and disease severity of COVID-19. Methods We revised the electronical medical records of confirmed COVID-19 patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in the Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda, The Netherlands. We divided patients in mild, moderate and severe groups based on clinical severity of COVID-19. Clinical severity was based on the therapy needed and the outcome of patients. We compared clinical characteristics, laboratory results and outcome between the three groups. Results Of the 230 patients included in this study, the mild, moderate and severe groups consisted of 16.5%, 45.7% and 37.8% of the included patients, respectively. The mean age was 68 years (IQR 57-78). 63% of patients were male. A significant decrease in the peripheral eosinophil counts was found corresponding to the increase of COVID-19 severity. In the mild, moderate and severe groups, the percentage of patients with eosinopenia was 73.7%, 86.7% and 94.3%, respectively (p value 0.002). Conclusion Eosinopenia is significantly more frequent present in patients with a severe COVID-19. Show less
Vosse, E. van de; Wengen, A. van; Meide, W.F. van der; Visser, L.G.; Dissel, J.T. van 2017
We observed high cure rates of PCP by treatment with intermediate-dose TMP-SMX. In addition, a step-down strategy to low-dose TMP-SMX during treatment in selected patients appears to be safe and... Show moreWe observed high cure rates of PCP by treatment with intermediate-dose TMP-SMX. In addition, a step-down strategy to low-dose TMP-SMX during treatment in selected patients appears to be safe and does not compromise the outcome of treatment. Show less
Vosse, E. van de; Ottenhoff, T.H.M.; Paus, R.A. de; Verhard, E.M.; Boer, T. de; Dissel, J.T. van; Kuijpers, T.W. 2010
Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare disorder with predisposition to severe, sometimes lethal, disease caused by otherwise poorly virulent, non-tuberculous... Show moreMendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare disorder with predisposition to severe, sometimes lethal, disease caused by otherwise poorly virulent, non-tuberculous environmental mycobacteria and poorly virulent salmonellae. In patients with MSMD, mutations have been identified in five genes that encode for the proteins IL-12/IL-23p40, IL-12/IL-23R beta 1, IFN-gamma R1, IFN-gamma R2 and STAT1. These proteins play important roles in the type-1 cytokine pathway, which is crucial for human host defence against intracellular pathogens such as mycobacteria and salmonellae. We report a girl with mild Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) disease and Salmonella enteritidis cervical lymphadenitis. Despite treatment, she has remained a fecal carrier of S. enteritidis for the past 14 years. She was found to have complete IL-12/IL-23R beta 1 deficiency. A homozygous r.518G>C IL12RB1 mutation was identified, leading to a non-functional R173P substitution in the IL-12/IL-23R beta 1 protein. This mutation abrogated IL-12/1L-23R beta 1 cell-surface expression and resulted in complete lack of T cell responsiveness to both IL-12 and IL-23. Show less
