Detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 in deep respiratory specimens despite negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR: Occult COVID-19 as an unsuspected cause of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients

Article Surgery

Severe relapse of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a kidney transplant recipient with negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR after rituximab

Antoine Morel et al.

Summary: Immunocompromised patients may experience prolonged viral shedding after their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, symptomatic relapses after remission currently remain rare. We herein describe a severe COVID-19 relapse case of a kidney transplant recipient (KTR) following rituximab therapy, 3 months after a moderate COVID-19 infection, despite viral clearance after recovery of the first episode. The diagnosis was established on a broncho-alveolar lavage specimen (BAL) by RT-PCR and confirmed on a cell culture assay. Whole genome sequencing revealed an identical strain (Clade 20A) with acquired mutations located within the N-terminal domain, which may play a role in viral entry. The diagnosis of COVID-19 relapse should be considered in unexplained persistent fever and/or respiratory symptoms in KTRs, especially those who have received rituximab therapy, even with previous negative naso-pharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR results.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION (2022)

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Letter Immunology

Severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Good syndrome with a favorable outcome

Maria Lourdes Cos Esquius et al.

CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY (2022)

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Article Immunology

Incidence, Clinical Presentation, Relapses and Outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Patients Treated With Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies

Jorge Calderon-Parra et al.

Summary: A retrospective cohort study of 422 patients under anti-CD20 treatment found that patients infected with COVID-19 within 6 months post-treatment had higher rates of hospital admission, mortality, and relapse, as well as longer infectivity of the virus.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Letter Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Residual SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens detected in GI and hepatic tissues from five recovered patients with COVID-19

Chun Chau Lawrence Cheung et al.

GUT (2022)

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Letter Immunology

Viro-immunological evaluation in an immunocompromised patient with long-lasting SARS-CoV-2 infection

A. Mancon et al.

EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS (2022)

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Article Immunology

Outcomes of B-Cell-Depleted Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Treated With Antispike Monoclonal Antibodies

Zachary A. Yetmar et al.

Summary: Antispike monoclonal antibody treatment showed good outcomes in 180 B-cell-depleted patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, with a low progression to severe disease, hospitalization and mechanical ventilation rates, no deaths within 30 days, and a low percentage of persistent COVID-19.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Microbiology

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutations during Prolonged Infection in Immunocompromised Hosts

Karrie K. K. Ko et al.

Summary: This study reports the emergence of spike mutations in two immunocompromised patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, indicating the potential for treatment escape and increased intrahost genome diversity. It provides evidence that immunocompromised hosts with persistent infections are important sources of SARS-CoV-2 genome diversity, particularly in relation to the spike protein.

MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM (2022)

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Article Immunology

Predictors of Immunogenic Response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Treated with Rituximab

Victoria Furer et al.

Summary: In patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) treated with rituximab (RTX), the predictors of a positive immunogenic response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine include the number of RTX courses, cumulative RTX dose, IgG level prior to last RTX course, and interval between RTX treatment and vaccination. ANCA-associated vasculitis and inflammatory myositis patients have a low likelihood of a seropositive immunogenic response.

VACCINES (2022)

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Article Rheumatology

Humoral and cellular responses to mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with a history of CD20 B-cell-depleting therapy (RituxiVac): an investigator-initiated, single-centre, open-label study

Matthias B. Moor et al.

Summary: The study investigated immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients receiving CD20-targeted B-cell-depleting therapies. Results showed blunted immune responses in these patients, indicating potential challenges in vaccination strategies for this population.

LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY (2021)

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Article Rheumatology

COVID-19 outcomes in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases treated with rituximab: a cohort study

Jerome Avouac et al.

Summary: Rituximab therapy is associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, and should be prescribed with caution.

LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY (2021)

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Article Hematology

Impact of rituximab on COVID-19 outcomes

Hannah Levavi et al.

Summary: This study examined the impact of prior rituximab therapy on clinical outcomes and antibody development in COVID-19 patients, finding that proximity of the last rituximab infusion to COVID-19 diagnosis did not affect disease severity and mortality rates. Over half of the patients developed neutralizing antibodies, and 11 of the 14 patients with negative antibody titers survived SARS-CoV-2 infection.

ANNALS OF HEMATOLOGY (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Containment of COVID-19 and reduction in healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections through a multi-tiered infection control strategy

Liang En Wee et al.

INFECTION DISEASE & HEALTH (2020)

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Detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 in deep respiratory specimens despite negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR: Occult COVID-19 as an unsuspected cause of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients

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