SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with hemopathies: An experience of a clinical hematology center in sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal

Abstract

Many studies have reported the association of SARS-CoV-2 with benign and malignant hemopathies. Data from African series are scarce. This work was conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and aimed to study the clinical, biological, and evolutionary features of hemopathies associated with this infection. It was a retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out over 32 months including 86 patients with benign or malignant hemopathies who underwent coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) confirmed by the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or presenting with atypical clinical signs associated with highly suggestive computed tomography (CT) scan signs. The mean age of patients was 48.3 ± 18.7 years with a sex ratio of 0.75. The main benign hemopathies were sickle cell trait (SCT) (n = 51), sickle cell disease SS (n = 8), and sickle cell disease SC (n = 1), while malignant hemopathies were represented by multiple myeloma (n = 5), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 5), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (n = 4). The clinical symptoms mainly featured anemic syndrome (16.3%) and a vaso-occlusive crisis was found in 9.3% of homozygous sickle-cell patients. The infection was moderate in 48% of cases and severe in 19.7%. The severe forms were commonly found in patients with malignant hemopathies (47.6%) and the benign forms were noted in benign hemopathies (38.4%). Full blood count outlined anemia in 32.5% and lymphopenia in 23.2% of cases. On imaging, the CT scan reported severe lesions in 41.3% of cases. The outcome resulted in full recovery in 76.7% of cases, and mortality occurred in 23.3%. In univariate analysis, death was mainly noted in patients with lymphoid hemopathies (15%). Comorbidities (P < 0.0001), lymphoid hemopathies (P < 0.0001), and the severity of COVID-19 (P < 0.0001) had a positive impact on death occurrence in univariate analysis. The association between SARS-CoV-2 and hemopathy is not uncommon and is dominated by benign hemopathies. Malignant hemopathies are at-risk underlying conditions justifying a hospital follow-up of mild forms, allowing better survival. Particular attention must be paid to SCT with comorbidities and those with sickle cell disease of disease.