Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and find out its effective treatment.
Methods: A total of 106 cases of SARS were analyzed prospectively.
Results: In this group, 56 were male and 50 female, aged from 15 to 81 years [average (36 +/- 10) years]. Common symptoms included fever (98.1%), chills (75.5%), cough (71.7%), headache and breathless (both 43.4%), diarrhea (24.5%) and rare rales in the lungs (11.2%). Laboratory test showed leukopenia (34.0%), lymphopenia (81.1%) and an extraordinary decrease of CD(4)(+) T cells (98.1%). Other rare abnormalities included liver injury (elevated alanine aminotransferase in 7.6%) and thrombocytopenia (3.8%). Almost all patients suffered from hypoxemia (PaO(2) less than 90 mm Hg in 90.2%, less than 70 mm Hg in 28.6%). Chest radiographs showed that unilateral focal patchy involvement in 34.0% of the patients, and unilateral multifocal or bilateral involvement were 11.3% and 46.2% respectively. Treatment regimens included small doses of steroids (methylprednisolone 40-80 mg, q12 h recommended) accompanied with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as the second generation of cephalosporins and macrolides and some other antiviral drugs. Meanwhile, emphasis was placed on oxygen support and coping with their underlying diseases.
Conclusions: SARS has various presentations of clinical features and laboratory tests. Detection of CD(4)(+) T cell count is beneficial to diagnose SARS in early stage. Effective treatment includes various regimens, oxygen support and small doses of steroids.