Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma-Treatment Failure, Recovery and COVID-19: A Case Report

Abstract

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common form of non-hodgkin lymphoma, involving multiple organ system including lymph node, bone marrow, spleen etc. Among overall cases of DLBCL, 40% are extranodal in origin and stomach being the most common site. While most of the (60%) are not diagnosed until the disease reach stage 3 or 4. While in the present case of a 65-year-old female, patient had predominant involvement of neck lymph nodes. Following the final diagnosis, patient was given first line treatment in the form of Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin hydrochloride (doxorubicin hydrochloride), vincristine (Oncovin) and Prednisone (R-CHOP) regimen, to which patient didn’t respond and further the patient was given Rituximab, Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, and Etoposide (R-ICE) regimen, to which patient responded quickly. With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the patient encountered infection with its associated complication. The following case report is all about the timely management of DLBCL and patient’s survival with COVID-19 and its related complication. Haematological malignancy such as lymphomas, leukaemias, myelomas cause severe myelosuppression and lymphodepletion increasing the risk for development of COVID-19. Studies have shown that patients with malignancy had an estimated two-fold increased risk of contracting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the general population. The survival rates strongly depend on COVID-19 stage and other factors such as immune (neutropenia) status and systemic inflammation.

Keywords

• chemotherapy
• coronavirus disease-2019
• haematological malignancy
• lymphoma
• non-hodgkin lymphoma