COVID-19 INFECTION AND DRASTIC DECREASE IN CD4

TOPIC: Chest Infections TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: It is well known now that COVID-19 cause lymphopenia. In the retrospective study the number of total T cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were dramatically reduced in COVID-19 patients, especially in patients requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care. (1) Lymphopenia and drastic reduction of CD4+ T cell counts in COVID-19 patients have been linked with poor clinical outcome too. (2) We present a case of a patient with well controlled HIV infection with stable absolute CD4 count but significant drop during COVID infection CASE PRESENTATION: A 67 year-old-man with history of HIV on ARV therapy with undetectable viral load, panhypopituitarism with central hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency and hypogonadism, recurrent DVT/PE on AC therapy, BPH, overactive bladder, stable angina presented with 3 days of fever, chills, diarrhea and malaise to ER. He received first dose of Moderna vaccine 2 weeks before admission. VS -saturation 79% on RA, and 96% on NRB mask, HR 122 beats/min, BP 159/87 mmHg, RR 18/min, T 101. PE unremarkable. Labs: Covid PCR +, WBC 15.3 K/cmm, ferritin 585.8 ng/ml, LDH 489 U/LAST 122 U/l, ALT 100U/L, CRP quant 321 mg/L, D dimer 1287 D-DU ng/ml, HIV RNA quant undetectable, CD4 67 cell/Ul, previous CD4 568 cmm 2 weeks prior admission. CXR:b/l patchy infiltrates. He was treated with dexamethasone, therapeutic Lovenox and received 1 U of convalescent plasma. His oxygen saturation improved, overall course was uneventful and patient was discharged home. CD4 count improved to 523 cmm 2 months later. DISCUSSION: It is shown that HIV infection does not increase the occurrence of COVID-19 and there is no increase in morbidity and mortality (2). The exact influence of COVID-19 on absolute T4 cells subset in HIV and their significance is presently unknown. Our patient had stable absolute CD4 count for years. He was compliant with ART and HIV viral load was undetectable. However, there was a drastic decline in his CD4 count that occurred during an acute COVID infection although he was on the same medications. CD4 recovered to baseline after COVID infection resolved. CONCLUSIONS: This is a unique case with such a dramatic drop of absolute CD4 count in acute COVID infection and further investigation on CD4 cells and it effects on HIV infection will need to be studied. REFERENCE #1: Diao B, Wang C, Tan Y, et al. Reduction and Functional Exhaustion of T Cells in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Front Immunol. 2020;11:827. Published 2020 May 1. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.00827 REFERENCE #2: Peng Xiaorong, Ouyang Jing, Isnard Stéphane, Lin John, Fombuena Brandon, Zhu Biao, Routy Jean-Pierre, Sharing CD4+ T Cell Loss: When COVID-19 and HIV Collide on Immune System, JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=11, YEAR=2020, PAGES=3307, URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2020.596631 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.596631, ISSN=1664-3224 DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Moses Bachan;no disclosure on file for Zinobia Khan;No relevant relationships by Mirjana Petrovic Elbaz, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Robert Siegel, source=Web Response

MARKEDLY ELEVATED TROPONIN WITH COVID-19 PNEUMONIA WITHOUT ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

TOPIC: Chest Infections TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: COVID infection can present with diverse manifestations. We present an interesting case of very high troponin elevation in patient with COVID infection without obvious reason for troponin elevation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old man with history of HTN, DM2, CAD (CABG in 2009, percutaneous vascularization of RCA with multiple DES in 2018), NSTEMI- 1 year ago, PVD, status post left BKA, ESRD on HD presented with 1 week of watery diarrhea after being tested positive for COVID. He denied chest pain, had minimal SOB. He received first dose of COVID vaccine 2 weeks prior. Vital signs: afebrile, BP 145/68 mmhg, HR 75 beats/min, RR 20/min, oxygen saturation 90% on RA and 96% on 3L of O2 via NC. PE: R- IJ permanent catheter, L- BKA, lungs clear. Labs: COVID PCR assay (+), D dimer 359 D-DU ng/ml, LDH 330 U/l, ferritin 3207 ng/ml, CRP quant 87 ml/l, SARS-CoV-2 Ig G (RBD) 1.14 S/CO, SARS-COV-2 IgM (Beckman) 2.56. troponin (AccuTnI) 13.46 ng/ml, CPK normal, Cr 7.5 (at the baseline), EKG - sinus rhythm, left axis deviation, negative T waves in lateral leads and ST depression up to 1 m in anterior leads, no changes from old EKG, CXR - Increased b/l pulmonary opacities compatible with atypical/viral pneumonia. The most recent ECHO 1 year ago – mild LV dysfunction with thin and akinetic inferior and basal posterior walls, LVEF 50%. Patient was already on aspirin, plavix, statin and that treatment was continued during hospital course. COVID pneumonia was treated with dexamethasone and convalescent plasma versus placebo (VA Cures- 1 Trial). His hospital stay was uneventful, he remained hemodynamically stable and asymptomatic and was discharged home DISCUSSION: Our patient has known history of CAD and ESRD which are well known cause for elevated troponin. However his Cr level was at his baseline and his previous troponin levels were never this high even when he had NSTEMI, it was only 1.44 ng/ml. During this admission with Covid infection his troponin level was as high as 13.46 ng/ml and trended down to 4.15 ng/ml on discharge, his baseline level of troponin is 0.03-0.88 ng/ml. Reasons for such a high level of troponin can be due to Type II MI or myocarditis. In the settings of COVID infection it has been suggested that troponemia can be due to microvascular damage occurring in the heart with perfusion defects, vessel hyperpermeability, vasospasm and high cytokine levels may represent the key player of myocardial injury (1). Our patient did not have a very severe form of COVID pneumonia that required intubation in fact, he was saturating well on minimal oxygen requirements. He remained asymptomatic with no new interval EKG changes or any other signs of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). CONCLUSIONS: Serum Troponin can be significantly elevated in the setting of COVID infection and in the absence of ACS. REFERENCE #1: Reference #1: Tersalvi G, Vicenzi M, Calabretta D, Biasco L, Pedrazzini G, Winterton D. Elevated Troponin in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: Possible Mechanisms. J Card Fail. 2020;26(6):470-475. doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2020.04.009 DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Moses Bachan;no disclosure on file for Zinobia Khan;No relevant relationships by Dileep Kumar, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Mirjana Petrovic Elbaz, source=Web Response