Abstract: Pertussis is a common infectious disease that seriously endangers the physical and mental health of patients. Its pathogenesis is complex, closely associated with factors such as Bordetella pertussis, toxins, cellular damage, and persistent cough. Clinically, pertussis has a high incidence and numerous risk factors, making early diagnosis and timely treatment particularly critical. In recent years, cleft nucleated cells—special morphological forms of lymphocytes—have garnered extensive attention in pertussis research. These cells can serve as an auxiliary indicator for early diagnosis due to their specific expression in pertussis patients. However, relying solely on cleft nucleated cells for diagnosis may lead to missed or misdiagnosis. Therefore, combining this marker with other specific indicators and detection methods can enhance clinical diagnostic efficacy. Based on domestic and international literature, this paper reviews the expression levels of cleft nucleated cells in pertussis patients and advances in their application for early diagnosis. The goal is to provide a reference for integrating cleft nucleated cells into rapid early diagnostic protocols for pertussis.

Key words: Cleft nucleated cells, Pertussis, Diagnostic value, Expression level, Research progress