Simulation of leukopenia developed with influenza A/H5N1 and its recovery with treatment of an antibody to influenza A/H5N1 virus

Abstract

For highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1, white blood cell count rapidly decreases after onset and then engender leukopenia. To elucidate the pathogenesis of leukopenia associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 infection, simulations were conducted using a mathematical model of mice. Those simulation results suggest the possibility that therapy with an antibody to influenza A/H5N1 virus showed better improvement from leukopenia than neuraminidase inhibitor therapy.