The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging and highly contagious infection caused by a newly discovered strain of coronavirus. Since the clinical case definition of SARS is similar to other severe a...The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging and highly contagious infection caused by a newly discovered strain of coronavirus. Since the clinical case definition of SARS is similar to other severe atypical pneumonias, specific laboratory tests that can accurately diagnose SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection are important. However, published data are insufficient to investigate whether clinically diagnosed SARS patients may include some non-SARS pneumonia. Therefore, we aimed to determine clinical and laboratory features to differentiate SARS patients from non-SARS pneumonias that could reduce misdiagnosis of SARS. A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristics after the initial onset of SARS, as well as its convalescent-phase, was examined from clinically diagnosed 197 SARS patients.展开更多
文摘The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging and highly contagious infection caused by a newly discovered strain of coronavirus. Since the clinical case definition of SARS is similar to other severe atypical pneumonias, specific laboratory tests that can accurately diagnose SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection are important. However, published data are insufficient to investigate whether clinically diagnosed SARS patients may include some non-SARS pneumonia. Therefore, we aimed to determine clinical and laboratory features to differentiate SARS patients from non-SARS pneumonias that could reduce misdiagnosis of SARS. A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristics after the initial onset of SARS, as well as its convalescent-phase, was examined from clinically diagnosed 197 SARS patients.