SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Induction Chemotherapy in a Child With High-risk T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) in children with hematologic malignancies is unclear. We describe the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of a 4-year-old boy with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia and COVID-19. Regardless of immunosuppressive induction chemotherapy his symptoms remained moderate. He received only supportive treatment. Seroconversion occurred in a similar period as in immunocompetent adults. Despite prolonged myelosuppression he did neither acquire secondary infections nor did the treatment delay caused by the infection have a measurable negative impact on the residual disease of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Intriguingly, residual leukemia even decreased even though he did not receive any antileukemic therapy.

Automated summary

Children with hematologic malignancies infected with COVID-19 may experience milder symptoms during infection, with a similar seroconversion period to immunocompetent adults. Despite prolonged myelosuppression, there were no secondary infections, and the treatment delay caused by the infection did not negatively impact the leukemia. Additionally, intriguingly, the residual leukemia even decreased without any antileukemic therapy.