Long‑term effects of COVID‑19 in sickle cell disease: A case report

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection can generate a respiratory and systemic disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). To date, at least to the best of our knowledge, only a limited number of studies have identified SARS‑CoV‑2 infection in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Due to the lack of knowledge of the long‑term effects of COVID‑19, the present study presents the hematological alterations in a patient with SCD during hospitalization due to COVID‑19 and for up to 180 days following SARS‑CoV‑2 clearance and hospital discharge. The present study describes the case of a patient with SCD who was diagnosed with moderate COVID‑19 infection, without the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Following SARS‑CoV‑2 clearance, long‑term (6 months) follow‑up identified an increase in the reticulocyte frequency, creatinine and D‑dimer levels. On the whole, the present study manuscript presents the case of a patient with moderate COVID‑19 infection with long‑term laboratory alterations at even 6 months following SARS‑CoV‑2 clearance. Further investigations are required however, to focus on the long‑term evaluations in patients who have recovered from COVID‑19, in order to fully determine the extension of possible sequelae.