COVID-19 Infection in Sickle Cell Patients in a Developing Country: A Case Series

Autor(es)

Silva-Pinto, Ana Cristina ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos-Oliveira, Leticia ^[2] ; Souza Santos, Flavia Leite ^{[1, 2]} ; Haddad, Simone Kashima ^[1] ; De Santis, Gil Cunha ^{[1, 2]} ; Calado, Rodrigo do Tocantins ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Reg Blood Ctr, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Sch Med, Dept Med Imaging Hematol & Oncol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Acta Haematologica; SEP 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Sickle cell disease is characterized by vaso-occlusive phenomena and haemolytic anaemia. There is a significant concern that the overlap of COVID-19 lung disease with acute chest syndrome that occurs in sickle cell patients may result in serious complications. Case reports of sickle cell patients with COVID-19 have been published. Here, we present a case series of COVID-19 infection in sickle cell patients in a developing country (Brazil). Only 10 patients tested positive so far for SARS-CoV-2 of 600 patients followed at our institution, of which 8 needed hospitalization (one in the intensive care unit), with no deaths. Even in a middle-income country, COVID-19 was reported to be relatively mild in sickle cell patients. In relation to risk factors, blood type O seems to confer some protection against developing severe COVID-19, a finding that could guide clinicians to adopt more clinical surveillance for patients with non-O blood type in sickle cell patients. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/05367-3 - Uso de plasma de doador convalescente para tratar pacientes com infecção grave pelo SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
• Beneficiário: Rodrigo do Tocantins Calado de Saloma Rodrigues
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular