Frontiers in Oncology (Jan 2021)

Case Report: B Lymphocyte Disorders Under COVID-19 Inflammatory Pressure

  • Gloria Taliani,
  • Gloria Taliani,
  • Gloria Taliani,
  • Elena Follini,
  • Lorenzo Guglielmetti,
  • Lorenzo Guglielmetti,
  • Lorenzo Guglielmetti,
  • Patrizia Bernuzzi,
  • Alberto Faggi,
  • Patrizia Ferrante,
  • Patrizia Ferrante,
  • Elisa Fronti,
  • Laura Gerna,
  • Maria Cristina Leoni,
  • Franco Paolillo,
  • Giovanna Ratti,
  • Alessandro Ruggieri,
  • Caterina Valdatta,
  • Alessandra Donisi,
  • Adriano Zangrandi,
  • Lara Pochintesta,
  • Carlo Moroni,
  • Daria Sacchini,
  • Daniele Vallisa,
  • Mauro Codeluppi,
  • the COVID-Piacenza Group,
  • Daniela Aschieri,
  • Mario Barbera,
  • Carlo Cagnoni,
  • Luigi Cavanna,
  • Cosimo Franco,
  • Chiara Gorrini,
  • Andrea Magnacavallo,
  • Massimo Nolli,
  • Massimo Piepoli,
  • Roberta Schiavo,
  • Matteo Silva,
  • Marco Stabile,
  • Angela Rossi,
  • Giovanni Vadacca

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.582901
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

Read online

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects humans through the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor expressed on many cells, including lymphocytes. In Covid-19 patients IL-6 is overexpressed, and hyperactivated plasmacytoid lymphocytes are detected in peripheral blood film. We hypothesize that, due to the unpredictable interaction between the new virus and the B cell lineage of infected patients, a cascade of out of control events can ensue, capable of determining unexpected pathologic disorders involving such lineage. Here we report two cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and two cases of B-cell hematological malignancies developed or reactivated during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The temporal relationship of the events may suggest a potential causal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the hematopoietic disorders. We suggest that special attention should be paid to COVID-19 patients with underlining B cell lineage disorders.

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