Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
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Original Article
Clinical Findings in 111 Cases of Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection
Hai-Nv Gao, M.D., Hong-Zhou Lu, M.D., Ph.D., Bin Cao, M.D., Bin Du, M.D., Hong Shang, M.D., Jian-He Gan, M.D., Shui-Hua Lu, M.D., Yi-Da Yang, M.D., Qiang Fang, M.D., Yin-Zhong Shen, M.D., Xiu-Ming Xi, M.D., Qin Gu, M.D., Xian-Mei Zhou, M.D., Hong-Ping Qu, M.D., Zheng Yan, M.D., Fang-Ming Li, M.D., Wei Zhao, M.D., Zhan-Cheng Gao, M.D., Guang-Fa Wang, M.D., Ling-Xiang Ruan, M.D., Wei-Hong Wang, M.D., Jun Ye, M.D., Hui-Fang Cao, M.D., Xing-Wang Li, M.D., Wen-Hong Zhang, M.D., Xu-Chen Fang, M.D., Jian He, M.D., Wei-Feng Liang, M.D., Juan Xie, M.D., Mei Zeng, M.D., Xian-Zheng Wu, M.D., Jun Li, M.D., Qi Xia, M.D., Zhao-Chen Jin, M.D., Qi Chen, M.D., Chao Tang, M.D., Zhi-Yong Zhang, M.D., Bao-Min Hou, M.D., Zhi-Xian Feng, M.D., Ji-Fang Sheng, M.D., Nan-Shan Zhong, M.D., and Lan-Juan Li, M.D.
May 22, 2013 - DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1305584
Abstract
Background
During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.
Methods
Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.
Results
Of the 111 patients we studied, 76.6% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), and 27.0% died. The median age was 61 years, and 42.3% were 65 years of age or older; 31.5% were female. A total of 61.3% of the patients had at least one underlying medical condition. Fever and cough were the most common presenting symptoms. On admission, 108 patients (97.3%) had findings consistent with pneumonia. Bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidation were the typical radiologic findings. Lymphocytopenia was observed in 88.3% of patients, and thrombocytopenia in 73.0%. Treatment with antiviral drugs was initiated in 108 patients (97.3%) at a median of 7 days after the onset of illness. The median times from the onset of illness and from the initiation of antiviral therapy to a negative viral test result on real-time reverse-transcriptase?polymerase-chain-reaction assay were 11 days (interquartile range, 9 to 16) and 6 days (interquartile range, 4 to 7), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of a coexisting medical condition was the only independent risk factor for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (odds ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 9.70; P=0.02).
Conclusions
During the evaluation period, the novel H7N9 virus caused severe illness, including pneumonia and ARDS, with high rates of ICU admission and death. (Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and others.)
-Clinical Findings in 111 Cases of Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection
Hai-Nv Gao, M.D., Hong-Zhou Lu, M.D., Ph.D., Bin Cao, M.D., Bin Du, M.D., Hong Shang, M.D., Jian-He Gan, M.D., Shui-Hua Lu, M.D., Yi-Da Yang, M.D., Qiang Fang, M.D., Yin-Zhong Shen, M.D., Xiu-Ming Xi, M.D., Qin Gu, M.D., Xian-Mei Zhou, M.D., Hong-Ping Qu, M.D., Zheng Yan, M.D., Fang-Ming Li, M.D., Wei Zhao, M.D., Zhan-Cheng Gao, M.D., Guang-Fa Wang, M.D., Ling-Xiang Ruan, M.D., Wei-Hong Wang, M.D., Jun Ye, M.D., Hui-Fang Cao, M.D., Xing-Wang Li, M.D., Wen-Hong Zhang, M.D., Xu-Chen Fang, M.D., Jian He, M.D., Wei-Feng Liang, M.D., Juan Xie, M.D., Mei Zeng, M.D., Xian-Zheng Wu, M.D., Jun Li, M.D., Qi Xia, M.D., Zhao-Chen Jin, M.D., Qi Chen, M.D., Chao Tang, M.D., Zhi-Yong Zhang, M.D., Bao-Min Hou, M.D., Zhi-Xian Feng, M.D., Ji-Fang Sheng, M.D., Nan-Shan Zhong, M.D., and Lan-Juan Li, M.D.
May 22, 2013 - DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1305584
Abstract
Background
During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.
Methods
Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.
Results
Of the 111 patients we studied, 76.6% were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), and 27.0% died. The median age was 61 years, and 42.3% were 65 years of age or older; 31.5% were female. A total of 61.3% of the patients had at least one underlying medical condition. Fever and cough were the most common presenting symptoms. On admission, 108 patients (97.3%) had findings consistent with pneumonia. Bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidation were the typical radiologic findings. Lymphocytopenia was observed in 88.3% of patients, and thrombocytopenia in 73.0%. Treatment with antiviral drugs was initiated in 108 patients (97.3%) at a median of 7 days after the onset of illness. The median times from the onset of illness and from the initiation of antiviral therapy to a negative viral test result on real-time reverse-transcriptase?polymerase-chain-reaction assay were 11 days (interquartile range, 9 to 16) and 6 days (interquartile range, 4 to 7), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of a coexisting medical condition was the only independent risk factor for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (odds ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 9.70; P=0.02).
Conclusions
During the evaluation period, the novel H7N9 virus caused severe illness, including pneumonia and ARDS, with high rates of ICU admission and death. (Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and others.)
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