Immune responses and therapeutic challenges in paediatric patients with new-onset acute myeloid leukaemia and concomitant COVID-19

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Pratik A. Patel, Emory University; Stacey A. Lapp, Emory University; Gabrielle Grubbs, US FDA; Venkata V. Edara, Emory University; Christina Rostad, Emory University; Claire Stokes, Emory University; Melinda Pauly, Emory University; Evan Anderson, Emory University; Anne Piantadosi, Emory University; Mehul Suthar, Emory University; Surender Khurana, US FDA; Himalee Sabnis, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-06-07
• Publisher: WILEY
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17517
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
• Volume: 194
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 549
• End Page: 553
• Grant/Funding Information: Mehul S. Suthar’s work is supported in part by grants [National Institutes of Health (NIH) P51OD011132 and 1U54CA260563‐01 to Emory University) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, by the Emory Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Synergy Fund award, the Pediatric Research Alliance Center for Childhood Infections and Vaccines and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, COVID‐Catalyst‐I3 Funds from the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and Emory School of Medicine, Woodruff Health Sciences Center 2020 COVID‐19 CURE Award and the Vital Projects/Proteus funds.
• Keywords: serology; COVID-19; Hematology; AML; children; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; induction chemotherapy
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Biology, Virology

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a medical emergency often presenting with hyperleucocytosis, coagulopathy and pulmonary infiltration necessitating emergent initiation of therapy. AML with concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection presents a unique challenge given the lack of evidence‐based guidelines or historical experience. While cohort studies have shown early serological responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 in healthy adults, 1 , 2 little is known about the serological responses to infection in patients with AML and the impact of chemotherapy on this response. In the present study, we detail the clinical presentations, treatments, serological and virological responses, and outcomes of two adolescents who presented with AML and concurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).