In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ ) and inflammatory factors (
interleukin-6 [IL-6], hypersensitive
C-reactive protein [
HS-CRP], and
procalcitonin [PCT]) of alveolar lavage fluid in patients with severe corona virus-2019 (COVID-19)
pneumonia and their clinical impact on the assessment of disease severity and prognosis. Twenty-four patients with severe
COVID-19 pneumonia were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Ezhou Central Hospital from February 1 to March 22, 2020. According to the 28-day prognosis, they were assigned to a death group and a survival group. On the 3rd day of ICU admission, peripheral blood and alveolar lavage fluid were collected for examination of lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory factors by flow cytometry and immunoturbidimetry, respectively. The CD3+ , CD4+ , and CD8+ cell counts in alveolar lavage fluid and serum were significantly higher in the survival group than those of the death group (p < .05). The levels of
IL-6,
HS-CRP, and PCT in the alveolar lavage fluid and serum of the death group were statistically higher than those of the survival group (p < .05); The CD3+ , CD4+ cell count, and
IL-6 level were negatively correlated with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, respectively (p < .05). The CD4+ cell and SOFA score have a regression relationship for the prognosis of
COVID-19 severe patients. The CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ cells, and
IL-6 levels are valuable in determining the prognosis of severe
COVID-19 pneumonia and are strongly correlated with the severity of the disease; the CD4+ cell is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of
COVID-19 pneumonia.