Table 6.
Characteristics, clinical and laboratory findings, and outcome in different groups of immunosuppressed patients
| Variable | Transplant organ recipients, n = 18 | Oncohematological patients, n = 19 | Corticosteroids therapy, n = 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean ± SD | 44.3 ± 4.3 | 41.8 ± 2.7 | 52.3 ± 5.3 |
| Male sex, no. (%) | 15 (83.3) | 13 (68.4) | 6 (46.2) |
| Tobacco smoker, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 6 (31.6) | 2 (15.4) |
| Alcohol, no. (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (10.5) | 0 (0) |
| Underlying conditions | |||
| - Chronic renal failure, no. (%) | 11 (61.1)* | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| - Chronic liver insufficiency, no. (%) | 4 (22.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.7) |
| - Chronic heart disease, no. (%) | 2 (11.1) | 1 (5.3) | 2 (15.4) |
| - Chronic pulmonary disease, no. (%) | 3 (16.7) | 2 (10.5) | 6 (46.2)* |
| - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 4 (30.8)* |
| - Asthma, no. (%) | 2 (11.1) | 1 (5.3) | 1 (7.7) |
| - Diabetes mellitus, no. (%) | 5 (27.8) | 2 (10.5) | 1 (7.7) |
| Influenza vaccine 08/09, no. (%) | 9 (50)* | 1 (5.3) | 4 (30.8) |
| Influenza vaccine 09/10, no. (%) | 3 (16.7) | 0 (0) | 1 (7.7) |
| Pneumococcal vaccine, no. (%) | 5 (27.8)* | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Clinical findings | |||
| - Days since onset of symptoms, median (range) | 2 (1–14) | 2.5 (1–7) | 3 (1–10) |
| - Rhinorrhea, no. (%) | 3 (16.7) | 2 (10.5) | 2 (15.4) |
| - Sore throat, no. (%) | 3 (16.7) | 4 (21.1) | 2 (15.4) |
| - Chills, no. (%) | 5 (27.8) | 2 (10.5) | 3 (23.1) |
| - Cough, no. (%) | 15 (83.3) | 18 (94.7) | 11 (84.6) |
| - Dyspnea, no. (%) | 5 (27.8) | 5 (26.3) | 8 (61.5) |
| - Pleuritic chest pain, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (15.8) | 1 (7.7) |
| - Gastrointestinal disorders, no. (%) | 5 (27.7) | 3 (15.7) | 0 (0) |
| - Myalgia/arthralgia, no. (%) | 8 (44.4) | 11 (57.9) | 4 (30.8) |
| - Headache, no. (%) | 8 (44.4) | 6 (31.6) | 4 (30.8) |
| - Expectoration, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Laboratory findings | |||
| Leukopenia (<4,000/mm3), no. (%) | 5 (27.7) | 14 (73.7)* | 1 (7.7) |
| Leukocytosis (>12,000/mm3), no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 1 (5.3) | 4 (30.8) |
| Neutropenia (<500/mm3), no. (%) | 0 (0) | 5 (26.3)* | 0 (0) |
| Lymphopenia (<1,500/mm3), no. (%) | 17 (94.4)* | 16 (84.2) | 7 (53.8) |
| Anemia (Hematocrit <36%), no. (%) | 10 (55.6) | 12 (63.2) | 5 (38.5) |
| Thrombocytopenia (<150.103/mm3), no. (%) | 7 (38.9) | 9 (47.4) | 2 (15.4) |
| AST >40 U/l, no. (%) | 4 (22.2) | 4 (21.1) | 1 (7.7) |
| ALT >40 U/l, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 6 (31.6)* | 1 (7.7) |
| Hyponatremia <135 mmol/l, no. (%) | 6 (33.3) | 5 (26.3) | 3 (23.1) |
| Serum creatine >1.5 mg/dl, no. (%) | 12 (66.7)* | 1 (5.3) | 2 (15.4) |
| LDH > 350 U/l, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 8 (42.1) | 1 (7.7) |
| C-reactive protein >20 mg/l, no. (%) | 6 (33.3) | 8 (42.1) | 7 (53.8) |
| Radiological findings | |||
| Pneumonia, no. (%) | 5 (27.8) | 6 (31.6) | 4 (30.8) |
| - Alveolar opacities, no. (%) | 5 (100) | 5 (83.3) | 3 (75) |
| - Multilobar infiltrates, no. (%) | 3 (16.7) | 4 (21.1) | 2 (15.4) |
| - PSI score, median (range) | 103 (71–131) | 89 (48–146) | 57.5 (47–146) |
| - CURB score, median (range) | 1 (0–3) | 2 (0–2) | 0 (0–3) |
| Clinical outcomes | |||
| Days to clinical stability, median(range) | 2 (1–14) | 2.5 (1–7) | 3 (1–10) |
| Related complications, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (15.8) | 3 (23.1) |
| Intensive care unit admission, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 0 (0) | 3 (23.1) |
| Septic shock, no. (%) | 0 (0) | 2 (10.5) | 0 (0) |
| Hospital stay, days, median (range) | 5 (2–28) | 6 (1–25) | 7 (3–32) |
| Death, no. (%) | 1 (5.6) | 3 (15.8) | 0 (0) |
*p < 0.05
LDH: lactate dehydrogenase