ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of patients with immune thrombocytopaenia (ITP) treated at our hospital. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Community of Madrid, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Spain. We included 143 adult patients with ITP (130 with chronic ITP, 8 with persistent ITP, and 5 with newly diagnosed ITP). We conducted a telephone survey to collect the data and created a registry. Materials and Methods: Overall, 24 patients presented symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, which was confirmed by RT-PCR in 8 cases. The cumulative incidence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was higher in the patients with ITP than in the Madrid population. There were no differences in the disease incidence or clinical course of infection in the patients treated with immunosuppressants. Almost all of the patients reported adherence to the prescribed treatment, although 49.2% of the hospital visits were either cancelled or postponed, 17.2% because of the patients' fear of coming to the centre. Nearly half of the cohort was considered vulnerable, and 17% had been granted a dependency or disability benefit. Conclusions: COVID-19 had a major impact on the psychosocial, occupational, and quality of care of patients with ITP.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Telemedicine , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Delivery of Health Care , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Medication Adherence , Middle Aged , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/epidemiology , Quality of Health Care , Risk , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Thrombocytopenia has been identified as a common complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the general population. In an attempt to determine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a retrospective single-centre study was performed. Thrombocytosis was observed in patients with chronic ITP after SARS-CoV-2 infection, frequently needing treatment adjustment or even discontinuation of therapy. Relapses and newly diagnosed cases showed a fast response after initial treatment compared to ITP. Reduced immune activity due to lymphopenia during COVID-19 could explain this paradoxical effect, although further studies are needed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/blood , Thrombocytopenia/virology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Thrombocytopenia/blood , Thrombocytopenia/immunology , Thrombocytopenia/pathologyABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically challenged care for cancer patients, especially those with active treatment who represent a vulnerable population for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aggressive lymphoid neoplasms, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma and high-grade B cell lymphoma, need to be treated without delay in order to get the best disease outcome. Because of that, our clinical practice was changed to minimise the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection while continuing haematological treatment. In this report, we analyse the management of front-line therapy in 18 patients during the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the results of the implemented measures in their outcome.