INTRODUCTIONrnThe sudden outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in early 2003 disturbed the world, especially China.1-3 Physicians and microbiologists have made great achievements in understanding the pathogen and effectively controlling its spread. The World Health Organization identified the source of the disease as SARS-CoV coronavirus on April 16, 2003.4-6 A total of 5327 individuals were diagnosed with SARS in China, and 349 patients died.7 In Beijing, SARS first broke out in Peking University People’s Hospital, where 80 medical staff contracted the virus, two of whom died subsequently. This cohort became the largest patient population worldwide and was composed of healthcare workers infected during their employment. Under the guidance on managing infectious diseases, Peking University People’s Hospital was isolated by the govment for 22 days. The main clinical manifestation after infection was high fever and severe lung inflammation.5-6 The patients who survived had residual pulmon-ary fibrosis as well as osteonecrosis resulting from treatment with large doses of steroid pulse therapy.