COVID-19 in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction: The recent SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the general population. Hemodialysis patients due to their characteristics are especially vulnerable. Objective: To specify the characteristics of patients with COIVID-19, chronic kidney disease, on hemodialysis. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study in 14 patients on hemodialysis positive for SARS-CoV-2. All the cases were diagnosed positive through the rRT-PCR test. The source of infection and the clinical picture presented at the time of diagnosis were identified. All patients underwent blood tests at the beginning. Results: 92.8% (13 patients) had previous contact with a positive case. At diagnosis 9 (64.28%) patients had symptoms and 5 (35.7%) were asymptomatic. Dyspnea (8 patients), fever and dry cough (7 patients) predominated. Lymphopenia was observed with an average of 0.12 in symptomatic patients, and 0.31 in asymptomatic patients. There was an increase in the mean ferritin of 3096 µg/l in symptomatic patients by 1001 µg/l in asymptomatic patients, and in C-reactive protein values, with an average of 67 mg/l in symptomatic patients by 18.2 mg/l in asymptomatic patients. Conclusions: In the hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease diagnosed with COVID-19, there were no differences in sex in terms of symptoms, with lymphopenia and the presence of elevated inflammatory markers at the time of diagnosis, mainly in symptomatic patients.

Keywords

• sars-cov-2
• covid-19
• enfermedad renal crónica
• hemodiálisis