Transfus Apher Sci
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Case Reports
SARS CoV 2 infection in chronic myelogenous leukemia: Severe hematological presentation.
Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the cause of coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19), has caused a pandemic. Few data are available about the risk of COVID-19 infection in persons with hematological cancer, but controversy whether these persons have the same clinical signs and outcomes. We describe a case of life-threatening COVID-19 infection complicated by severe anemia in patients affected also by chronic myelogenous leukemia. ⋯ COVID 19-related pneumonia is mediated by hyper activation of effector T cells and excessive production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-1, interferon-gamma, and TNF. This inflammatory process called "cytokine storm" is a life-threatening complication of COVID 19 infection. In this case severe immunohematological consequences are reported for the first time and recognition of this complications are probably underestimated.
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The Hematology Department and its Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) program implemented several measures during COVID-19 outbreak in order to keep clinical activities with the maximum security for both donors and recipients. Nevertheless, there was a lack of evidence whether blood products and specifically bone marrow can cause transfusion-transmitted infection. Initially, there were many uncertainties and did not exist formal recommendations. ⋯ In our knowledge this is the first case report of an adult hematopoietic cell donor with COVID-19 in the incubation period where the transplant is successfully completed with no transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The low concentration of viral RNA in plasma of patients with COVID-19 could support the safety of blood products, including peripheral blood hematopoietic cells. In conclusion, blood products including hematopoietic stem cells are safe in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease spreading rapidly in Sudan, the rest of the African continent and the world with no known definitive treatment or vaccines. However, among many treatment interventions being tested globally, beneficial effects and clinical improvements have been reported when convalescent plasma is used for treating COVID-19 patients. We prepared a guiding protocol for treating early to moderate COVID-19 patients with plasma transfusion from convalescent COVID-19 patients. ⋯ The protocol covers instructions on patient and donor selection criteria, plasma harvesting, plasma product specifications, dosage and precautions for convalescent plasma collection and transfusion process. Altogether, we prepared a treatment protocol that is tailored to the context of Sudan to be adopted by Sudan's health authority. Moreover, it will also provide reference for researchers to design open label clinical trials for convalescent plasma transfusion.