Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Italian Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Study From the Infectious Diseases Working Group of the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia e Ematologia Pediatrica.
COVID-19 epidemic
SARS-CoV-2 infection
outcome
pediatric malignancy
Journal
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
ISSN: 2048-7207
Titre abrégé: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101586049
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 Nov 2020
10 Nov 2020
Historique:
received:
10
06
2020
accepted:
09
07
2020
pubmed:
12
7
2020
medline:
18
11
2020
entrez:
12
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Little is known as yet about the outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children being treated for cancer. We collected information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of 29 children (16 female and 13 male; median age, 7 years [range, 0-16 years]) diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection while on chemotherapy/immunotherapy (n = 26), or after stem cell transplantation (n = 3) during the peak of the epidemic in Italy. These patients suffered from leukemia (n = 16), lymphoma (n = 3), solid tumors (n = 10), and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 1). The course of the disease was mild in all cases, with only 12 children developing symptoms (pneumonia in 3 cases), and none needing intensive care. Fifteen patients were hospitalized, including 7 asymptomatic patients. Nine patients (including 5 with no symptoms) were given hydroxychloroquine, and 3 of them were also given lopinavir/ritonavir. Among the 26 patients on chemotherapy/immunotherapy, the treatment was suspended in 16 cases for a median of 26 days (range, 15-68 days), whereas 8 patients continued their chemotherapy and 2 had minor modifications to their treatment regimen. SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to take a milder clinical course in children than in adults with cancer. Specific SARS-CoV-2 treatment seems unnecessary for most children. In light of our findings, and albeit with the necessary caution, we suggest avoiding major changes to planned anticancer treatments in pediatric patients acquiring COVID-19.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Little is known as yet about the outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children being treated for cancer.
METHODS
METHODS
We collected information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of a cohort of 29 children (16 female and 13 male; median age, 7 years [range, 0-16 years]) diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection while on chemotherapy/immunotherapy (n = 26), or after stem cell transplantation (n = 3) during the peak of the epidemic in Italy. These patients suffered from leukemia (n = 16), lymphoma (n = 3), solid tumors (n = 10), and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (n = 1).
RESULTS
RESULTS
The course of the disease was mild in all cases, with only 12 children developing symptoms (pneumonia in 3 cases), and none needing intensive care. Fifteen patients were hospitalized, including 7 asymptomatic patients. Nine patients (including 5 with no symptoms) were given hydroxychloroquine, and 3 of them were also given lopinavir/ritonavir. Among the 26 patients on chemotherapy/immunotherapy, the treatment was suspended in 16 cases for a median of 26 days (range, 15-68 days), whereas 8 patients continued their chemotherapy and 2 had minor modifications to their treatment regimen.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to take a milder clinical course in children than in adults with cancer. Specific SARS-CoV-2 treatment seems unnecessary for most children. In light of our findings, and albeit with the necessary caution, we suggest avoiding major changes to planned anticancer treatments in pediatric patients acquiring COVID-19.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32652521
pii: 5870367
doi: 10.1093/jpids/piaa088
pmc: PMC7454778
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antineoplastic Agents
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
530-534Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Références
JAMA Oncol. 2020 Sep 1;6(9):1459-1460
pubmed: 32401276
N Engl J Med. 2020 Jul 9;383(2):187-190
pubmed: 32356945
Pediatrics. 2020 Jun;145(6):
pubmed: 32179660
Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2020 Jun;17(6):336
pubmed: 32265531
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2019 Mar 28;8(1):21-28
pubmed: 29447395
J Med Virol. 2020 Oct;92(10):2067-2073
pubmed: 32369209
Ann Oncol. 2020 Jul;31(7):894-901
pubmed: 32224151
N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 23;382(17):1663-1665
pubmed: 32187458
Eur J Cancer. 2020 Jun;132:11-16
pubmed: 32305831
Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Aug;67(8):e28466
pubmed: 32539233
Lancet Oncol. 2020 Mar;21(3):335-337
pubmed: 32066541
JAMA. 2020 May 12;323(18):1775-1776
pubmed: 32203977