Convalescent plasma for persisting COVID-19 following therapeutic lymphocyte depletion: a report of rapid recovery.

Abstract

We read with deep interest the report by Tepasse et al .1 concerning two cases of persisting viraemia in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) with fatal outcome. Whilst severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection in the early stages of infection has been well described, less is known about the development of antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2, clearance of RNA shedding and clinical outcome of COVID‐19. In addition, the impact of immunosuppressive treatments on disease severity is not yet established, but several reports suggest a more prolonged disease in patients under rituximab, a B‐cell depleting drug.2-4 Here we report a case of persisting COVID‐19, following combined treatment with rituximab and bendamustine for lymphoma, which immediately recovered after convalescent plasma transfusion. We think that this case raises promising perspectives for immunocompromised patients with persisting COVID‐19.