Viral and Immunologic Factors Associated with Fatal Outcome of Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Korea

Significant progress has been made on the molecular biology of the severe fever with thrombopenia virus (SFTSV); however, many parts of the pathophysiological mechanisms of mortality in SFTS remain unclear. In this study, we investigated virologic and immunologic factors for fatal outcomes of patients with SFTS. We prospectively enrolled SFTS patients admitted from July 2015 to October 2020. Plasma samples were subjected to SFTSV RNA RT-PCR, multiplex microbead immunoassay for 17 cytokines, and IFA assay. A total of 44 SFTS patients were enrolled, including 37 (84.1%) survivors and 7 (15.9%) non-survivors. Non-survivors had a 2.5 times higher plasma SFTSV load than survivors at admission (p < 0.001), and the viral load in non-survivors increased progressively during hospitalization. In addition, non-survivors did not develop adequate anti-SFTSV IgG, whereas survivors exhibited anti-SFTSV IgG during hospitalization. IFN-alpha, IL-10, IP-10, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha, and G-CSF were significantly elevated in non-survivors compared to survivors and did not revert to normal ranges during hospitalization (p < 0.05). Severe signs of inflammation such as a high plasma concentration of IFN-alpha, IL-10, IP-10, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha, and G-CSF, poor viral control, and inadequate antibody response during the disease course were associated with mortality in SFTS patients.

Automated summary

The study found that non-survivors of SFTS had higher viral loads at admission, which increased during hospitalization, and inadequate antibody response. Compared to survivors, non-survivors had more severe inflammatory symptoms during the disease course.