The Cause-Effect Dilemma of Hematologic Changes in COVID-19: One Year after the Start of the Pandemic

Ilham Youssry; Dalia Abd Elaziz; Nardeen Ayad; Iman Eyada

doi:10.3390/hematolrep14020014

The Cause-Effect Dilemma of Hematologic Changes in COVID-19: One Year after the Start of the Pandemic

Hematol Rep. 2022 Mar 28;14(2):95-102. doi: 10.3390/hematolrep14020014.

Authors

Ilham Youssry¹, Dalia Abd Elaziz², Nardeen Ayad¹, Iman Eyada²

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Hematology and BMT Unit, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt.
² Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt.

Abstract

COVID-19 is a systemic infection that leads to multisystem affection, including hematological changes. On the other hand, the patients who have certain hematological diseases are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection. The aim of this review is to examine the wide spectrum of hematological changes that are reported to occur due to COVID-19 infection. Most of the studies over the past year mainly show that most of these changes are mainly non-specific, but are of prognostic value. On the other hand, the susceptibility of hematological patients to COVID-19 infection and complications remains questionable. Patients with certain hematological diseases (including malignancy) and those who are treated by aggressive immunosuppressive therapy have shown higher rates of COVID-19 infection and complications. On the other hand, for most of the patients suffering from other chronic hematological conditions, no evidence has shown a greater risk of infection, compared to the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; hematological changes; hematological diseases; thrombosis.

Publication types

Review