COVID-19 Associated Lymphopenia Pathogenesis Study in Blood

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a pandemic with a wide range of manifestations. One of the hallmarks of severe illness is the presence of elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, coagulopathy, and lymphopenia. Lymphopenia is a robust and consistent predictor of mortality in COVID-19. Understanding the intersection of inflammation, complement activation, endothelial damage, and coagulation is critical to a better understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis. This is a multisite study that will conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and other local hospitals. We will recruit patients with mild to severe COVID-19, as well as patients who have recently recovered from the disease. Participants will have blood drawn via venipuncture or available venous access and optional nasal and/or rectal swabs, with optional leukapheresis and echocardiogram for recovered patients. Leftover clinical specimens may also be used for research. Blood will be used for genetic testing, lymphocyte phenotyping, soluble biomarker analysis, and other research tests. Clinical and laboratory data from routine care (eg, basic demographic information, vital signs, medications, clinical labs, and radiologic imaging) will also be collected and up to two follow up visits may be done for clinical purposes. Participants may re-enroll in the study after recovery from infection as recovered participants or if they experience a new infection.