Background: According to published data, the risk of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in patients with malignancies is 5 times higher than in those without malignancies.

Objective: To evaluate in-hospital overall survival in hematological patients with grade 4 neutropenia associated with coronavirus infection.

Patients: This study was conducted from April 24, 2020 to June 17, 2021 in the Department of Hematology of Moscow City Clinical Hospital No. 52 (Russian Federation) and included 76 hematological patients with grade 4 neutropenia and coronavirus infection (aged 18-91 years):

• 40 patients with acute leukemias (32 with AML, 8 with ALL): 22 men with a median age of 54 years (interquartile range (IQR) 43-60) and 18 women with a median age of 61 years (IQR 56-70) and

• 36 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (mostly with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas): 13 men with a median age of 57 years (IQR 40-68) and 23 women with a median age of 63 years (IQR 35-75).

All patients were brought in by ambulance from other hospitals where they had received a course of combination chemotherapy interrupted due to coronavirus infection.

Results: Most pts had moderate to severe lung disease (CT severity scores were 2, 3, and 4 in 29 (38.2%), 17 (22.5%), and 8 (10%) patients, respectively); 55% of patients had high C-reactive protein and procalcitonin (above 0.5 ng/mL); lactate dehydrogenase (mean 395.7 U/L) and D-dimer (mean 2533.8) levels were significantly elevated. Patients had a higher NEWS score (mean 8) and a high Charlson comorbidity index score (mean 5).

Interleukin-6 and IL-1b blockers were used as pathogenetic therapy to control hypercytokinemia. Taking into account grade 4 neutropenia, the dose of interleukin blockers was reduced.

In order to prevent thromboembolic complications, low molecular weight heparins were used at therapeutic doses (with anti-Xa activity monitoring). Oxygen was administered in patients with clinical signs of respiratory failure (oxygen insufflation via nasal cannulas or mask). Patients with progressive respiratory failure were transferred to intensive care unit.

In order to improve humoral immune response (due to low SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody titers), 43.4% of patients were administered replacement therapy with pathogen-reduced fresh-frozen COVID-19 convalescent plasma. This led to a pronounced IgG increase in 7 patients only. Antifungal treatment was used in 54% of cases.

Empirical antibacterial treatment for community-acquired pneumonia was administered, including inhibitor-protected aminopenicillins and respiratory fluoroquinolones (as 1st line treatment), upfront antibacterial treatment for neutropenic fever (2nd line), and targeted antibacterial treatment (3rd line).

• In the acute leukemia group, 25 (63%) patients died during hospital treatment and 15 (37%) subjects survived; the median overall survival was 15 days (95% CI 15-22) (Fig. 1).

• In the lymphoproliferative disease group, the numbers of deaths and survivals were 22 (61%) and 14 (39%), respectively, and the median overall survival was 25 days (95% CI 11-32) (Fig. 2). The median follow-up was 24 days.

Conclusions: Coronavirus infection associated with severe neutropenia (caused by tumor progression and/or combination chemotherapy) is a significant adverse factor for overall survival in patients with hematological malignancies.

Figure 1
Figure 1.
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Disclosures

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

© 2021 by The American Society of Hematology
2021
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