COVID-19 in the Context of Inborn Errors of Immunity: a Case Series of 31 Patients from Mexico

INTRODUCTION

Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) have a compromised or inappropriate immune response. Although they might be considered a high-risk group for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, the reported impact of COVID-19 in these patients has been reassuring, while the differential susceptibility of distinct types of IEI remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe the findings and outcomes of our known patients with IEI who were diagnosed with COVID-19.

METHODS

In a retrospective study from March 2020 to February 2021, four centers in Mexico collected clinical, laboratory, and genetic data from pediatric and adult patients with known diagnoses of IEI who presented with COVID-19, based on compatible symptoms and positive SARS-CoV-2 testing or known household exposure.

RESULTS

We report 31 patients with known IEI from Mexico who presented with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Seventy-four percent were male, 52% were pediatric, and 81% survived. Their ages ranged from 5 months to 56 years, with a median of 17 years. Sixty-five percent had predominant antibody deficiencies, 48% were hospitalized, and 26% required ICU. Pediatric patients had a higher hospital admission rate than adults. Inpatient mortality was 40%, and ICU mortality rate was 63%. Forty-eight percent developed pneumonia, while 36% had evidence of hyperinflammation (4 adults and 7 children). Predominant laboratory features were lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia, seen in 70 and 44% of patients, respectively. The serum D-dimer median value was 2.6 (0.5-20.6) μg/mL, and the median highest ferritin value was 1015 (32-10,303) ng/mL. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 80% of patients. Other treatments included macrolides (39%) and corticosteroids (29%). Six patients died from secondary infection or uncontrolled systemic inflammation.

DISCUSSION

Although impaired immunity due to IEI may be a predisposing factor for severe COVID-19, most of our patients with IEI who acquired the SARS-CoV-2 infection developed a well-tolerated infection and survived, as have more than 80% of worldwide reported patients to date. An impaired immune or inflammatory response may be a predisposing factor for some and a protective factor for others. A systematic review of the literature could help identify those patients at risk of severe disease and complications. Healthcare-associated infections should be aggressively prevented.

COVID-19 neutralizing antibody-based therapies in humoral immune deficiencies: A narrative review

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS−COV-2), generated an unprecedented global health and social emergency. Despite many efforts from clinicians to develop effective anti−COVID-19 treatment protocols, no specific therapy is currently available. Among anti-viral agents, convalescent plasma (CP) from recovered patients is the object of intense research following the first positive reports in severe COVID-19 patients. Passive immunotherapy the rationale to provide higher benefits in COVID-19 patients with humoral immune deficiencies, such as those with solid and hematologic cancers, patients with primary and acquired immunodeficiencies, and recipients of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. The aim of this narrative review will be to critically discuss the literature evidence on CP use in these categories of patients.

Optimization and testing of dried antibody tube: The EuroFlow LST and PIDOT tubes as examples

Within EuroFlow, we recently developed screening tubes for hematological malignancies and immune deficiencies. Pipetting of antibodies for such 8-color 12-marker tubes however is time-consuming and prone to operational mistakes. We therefore evaluated dried formats of the lymphocytosis screening tube (LST) and of the primary immune deficiency orientation tube (PIDOT). Both tubes were evaluated on normal and/or on patient samples, comparing the mean fluorescence intensity of specific lymphocyte populations. Our data show that the dried tubes and liquid counterparts give highly comparable staining results, particularly when analyzed in multidimensional plots. In addition, the use of dried tubes may result in a reduced staining variability between different samples and thereby contributes to the generation of more robust data. Therefore, by using ready-to-use reagents in a dried single test tube format, the laboratory efficiency and quality will be improved.

The Second Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium International Consensus Conference on Late Effects after Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Defining the Unique Late Effects of Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Immune Deficiencies, Inherited Marrow Failure Disorders, and Hemoglobinopathies

An international consensus conference sponsored by the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant consortium entitled "Late Effects Screening and Recommendations Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Immune Deficiency and Nonmalignant Hematologic Disease" was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 10, 2016 and May 11, 2016. The purpose of the conference was to address the unmet need for greater understanding of and the screening for long-term complications in the growing population of survivors of transplantation for nonmalignant disorders. The conference focused on transplantation for hemoglobinopathy, immune deficiency, and inherited bone marrow syndromes. A multidisciplinary group of experts in the disease areas and transplantation late effects presented the current state of understanding of how the underlying disease, pretransplantation therapies, and transplantation-related factors uniquely interact to influence the development of late toxicities. Recommendations were put forth by the group for the late effects screening of survivors of transplantation for these nonmalignant disorders. The findings and recommendations that came from this conference will be presented in a series of 6 additional manuscripts in the upcoming months. In this manuscript, we explore the need for screening practices specific to the survivors of transplantation for nonmalignant diseases and the methodologic challenges associated with the study of these patients.