ABSTRACT
Background: The clinical course of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) varies from those who are asymptomatic, experience mild symptoms such as fever, cough, and dyspnea, to more severe outcomes including acute respiratory distress, pneumonia, renal failure, and death. Early reports suggested severe outcomes in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID), particularly those with type 1 interferon signalling defects. This prompted a rigid approach to social distancing to protect this patient population, particularly children. To date, real-world data describing the course and outcome of COVID-19 in paediatric PID patients remains scarce. Method(s): In this retrospective case series, we describe the clinical course of 36 paediatric patients with underlying primary immunodeficiency (PID) followed by SickKids Hospital (Toronto, Canada) who were symptomatic and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection between October 2020 to November 2022. Result(s): Our cohort consisted of patients with combined immunodeficiency (66.7%), antibody deficiency (22.2%), neutrophil dysfunction (8.3%), and immune dysregulation (2.8%). The median age was 7.5 years (range: 8 months - 17 years), with 21 male and 15 female patients. Three (8.3%) patients were post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and 12 (33%) patients were on immunoglobulin replacement. Nine (25%) patients had underlying lung problems including bronchiectasis (1), interstitial lung disease on home oxygen therapy (1), and underlying asthma (7). Most patients had mild clinical course and were managed at home. The most common symptoms were fever (80%), cough (75%) and other upper respiratory tract symptoms (72%). Nineteen (52.7%) patients experienced other symptoms which included headache, lethargy, or gastrointestinal upset. At the time of the infection, 13 patients (36.1%) had received 2 doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, 5 patients (13.9%) had received 1 dose, and 18 (50%) were not vaccinated. None of the patients received antiviral or monoclonal antibody as prophylaxis or treatment. Only 1 patient required hospital admission out of precaution given the close proximity to HSCT. All patients recovered without complications. Conclusion(s): The paediatric patients with PID followed by our centre experienced mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and recovered fully without complications. These findings support the return of much needed social interactions among children, which were impacted severely during the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc.
ABSTRACT
Background: Si nce the onset of the COVID-19 pandemi c, a mai n chal l enge for cl i ni ci ans and publ i c heal th deci si on-makers has revol ved around ri sk strati fi cati on i n vul nerable popul ati ons, i n parti cul ar i ndi vi dual s wi th i nborn errors of i mmuni ty (I EI ). However, avai l abl e report s of t he cl i ni cal course of COVID-19 in patients with IEI show wide variability, from a complete lack of symptoms to severe and compli-cated disease. Objective(s): To present the clinical features and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adult patients with IEI. Method(s): We performed a retrospective chart review documenting patient characteristics and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 2021 and July 2022. Result(s): Ten adult patients with IEI followed in our center were diagnosed with COVID-19, as determined by RT-PCR or rapid antigen testing. IEI in this cohort included those with humoral and combined immunodeficien-cies, as well as phagocytic defects. An underlying lung comorbidity was identified in 3 patients. Symptoms were mostly mild and self-limiting, and no severe outcomes, complications, or mortality were noted in this study. Conclusion(s): We suggest that patients affected by a wide range of both humoral and combined IEI may demonstrate resilience, while highlighting the possible protective effects of vaccination and immunoglobulin replacement in this population. Statement of Novelty: We report on the mild COVID-19 clinical course of 10 adults with IEI. Copyright © The Authors.