ERN-EuroBloodNet Registry on Patients With Rare Red Blood Cell Defects and COVID-19

Plain-language summary

Patients with red blood cell disorders (RBCDs), such as Sickle cell disease (SCD) and Thalassemia, are chronic, life-threatening conditions that can become multi-organ complications over time, and are likely at an increased risk of COVID-19-related complications. Patients at the highest risk include the elderly (\>50 in our population), those with a history of respiratory or cardiac disease and those with other comorbidities. Several patients affected by RBCDs undergo splenectomy as therapeutic option to improve their level of hemoglobin concentration. Splenectomized patients, or in the case of SCD with functional hyposplenism, are more vulnerable to bacterial infections / superinfections after viral infection. Acute pulmonary syndrome (ACS) is the main cause of morbidity in SCD in middle-high income countries, and is often triggered by infectious events. Currently, there is no literature on the subject. Thus, any recommendation available comes from the experience gained with previous Coronaviruses infections. Accordingly, the correct treatment and management of infection by Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) in patients affected by RBCDs may be challenging given the rapid spread of the pandemic and limited literature so far, especially in some countries. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to pool evidence in a unique repository on patients affected by RBCDs and COVID-19 in order to reach critical numbers to facilitate the medical decision making process across Europe. The Registry on patients with rare RBCDs and COVID-19 is an initiative conceived in the core of the European Reference Network on Rare Hematological Diseases (ERN-EuroBloodNet, FPA 739541, www.eurobloodnet.eu) aiming at supporting medical practice of COVID-19 in these patients by gathering evidence on pediatric and adult COVID-19 confirmed cases in RBCDs across Europe.

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