Abstract
Background
There are emerging eosinophil-related considerations concerning viral infections. The role of eosinophils has poorly been evaluated during Hantavirus infection.
Methods
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of eosinophilia (defined as an eosinophil count above 500 cells/mm3) during haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in a large cohort of patients, and to identify factors associated with eosinophilia.
Results
Among 387 patients hospitalized for HFRS, 98 (25.3%) had eosinophilia. By univariate analysis, eosinophilia was significantly associated with more severe thrombocytopenia, high C-reactive protein level, white blood cell count and neutrophil count and lower nephrotoxic drug intake. As there was a collinearity between white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level, only C-reactive protein level with platelet count and nephrotoxic drug intake were entered in the multivariable analysis. Elevated C-reactive protein concentrations remained independently associated with eosinophilia.
Conclusion
Eosinophilia during HFRS affects one quarter of patients, and supports the role of eosinophils in antiviral immunity against hantavirus infection.
Acknowledgements
We thank Fiona Ecarnot, PhD (EA3920, University Hospital Besancon, France) for editorial assistance.
Ethical approval
Only parameters collected in routine clinical practice for which patients give their informed consent on admission to the hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Approval by an ethics committee was not required in accordance with French legislation. Consent to participate not applicable. All patients received information on the use of their data for research purpose.
Author contributions
All authors cared for the patients. MB and FBS wrote the first manuscript draft. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript and gave final approval. FBS was responsible for the overall supervision of the study. No funding was received for this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.