Open AccessConcurrent diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia and symptomatic COVID-19 infection: a case report successfully treated with Azacitidine-Venetoclax combination
Author(s) -
Daniela Taurino,
Marco Frigeni,
Anna Grassi,
Gianluca Cavallaro,
Silvia Salmoiraghi,
Orietta Spinelli,
Alessandro Rambaldi,
Federico Lussana
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
mediterranean journal of hematology and infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2035-3006
DOI - 10.4084/mjhid.2021.057
Subject(s) - venetoclax , medicine , azacitidine , myeloid leukemia , pneumonia , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , oncology , intensive care medicine , chemotherapy , concomitant , leukemia , transplantation , pediatrics , biochemistry , gene expression , chemistry , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , dna methylation , gene
SARS-COV2 pandemic has caused profound challenges in health care systems worldwide. Patients affected by hematological neoplasms appear to be particularly at risk of developing COVID-19 complications, with unfavorable outcomes.
Here, we present the case of a 57-years-old woman diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and concurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML). At the time of diagnosis, it was decided to postpone leukemia therapy to enable adequate COVID-19 pneumonia treatment. When her conditions related to pneumonia improved, the combination of Azacitidine-Venetoclax was used as first-line treatment, instead of conventional intensive chemotherapy. At the end of the first two cycles, the patient showed complete remission, and a post-remission consolidation with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been planned.
This case suggests that Azacytidine-Venetoclax induction may represent a valid and safe alternative to intensive chemotherapy in the challenging setting of patients with a concomitant diagnosis of AML and severe COVID-19 infection.