Recurrent Positivity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a Clinically Recovered COVID-19 Patient with End Stage Renal Disease: A Case Report

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2020 Nov 22;58(231):918-922. doi: 10.31729/jnma.5249.

Abstract

Recurrent or persistent positivity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinically recovered COVID-19 patients have been reported worldwide. However, replication competent live viruses were not recovered beyond two to three weeks from onset of symptoms in mild to severe cases of COVID-19. End stage renal disease is characterized by uremia induced immune dysfunction that increases the risk of infectious diseases including COVID-19. The clinical implications of recurrent or persistently positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in immunocompromised patients are difficult to be generalized to findings as in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of end stage renal disease with recent history of recovered COVID-19 pneumonia, who again presented with positive reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic* / therapy
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • RNA, Viral