Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 in Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome

Acta Haematol. 2023;146(6):496-503. doi: 10.1159/000531831. Epub 2023 Jul 29.

Abstract

Introduction: Haemato-oncologic patients are more susceptible to severe infections with SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome (MF/SS).

Methods: The data were retrieved from anonymized electronic medical records of Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), the second-largest healthcare organization in Israel. Patients diagnosed with MF/SS were included in the study. COVID-19 PCR test results together with sociodemographic and clinical data were extracted and analyzed to evaluate the association of COVID-19 with clinical outcomes.

Results: In the period of 2020-2022, 1,472 MF/SS patients were included in the study. Among them, 768 (52%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection. The hospitalization rate was 2.9% and infection by the Delta variant was associated with the highest hospitalization rate (7.7%). The hospitalization rate was lower among fully vaccinated patients (p = 0.032) but higher for patients older than 65 (p < 0.001) and patients with SS (vs. MF) (p < 0.001) or COPD (p = 0.024) diagnosis. There was a tendency for decreased hospitalization among patients treated with nirmatrelvir + ritonavir within 5 days of infection, with a 79% risk reduction, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.164).

Conclusion: Patients with MF/SS do not necessarily have worse COVID-19 outcomes compared to the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hemato-oncology; Mycosis Fungoides; SARS-CoV-2; Sezary Syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Mycosis Fungoides* / complications
  • Mycosis Fungoides* / diagnosis
  • Mycosis Fungoides* / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sezary Syndrome* / complications
  • Sezary Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Sezary Syndrome* / therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms* / therapy

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants