Onkológia 3/2022

COVID-19 and patients with hematological malignancies

Patients with hematological malignancies belong to high-risk group of immunocompromised patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Risk of infection is similar to overall population but disease course and consequences including mortality are unfavourable, with variability according to virus variants. Therapeutic and prophylactic approach was influenced by heterogeneity of the risk factors in this group of patients. Virus clearence may be prolonged and some patients have persistent virus positivity. Despite the lower rate of vaccination response, the vaccination is the basic principle of prevention including the boosters. Except the standard recommended therapy for outpatients and hospitalized patients the convalescent plasma is administred in B-cell depleted persons. With the advent of potent antivirals together with the vaccination strategy we suppose decrease of mortality in patients with hematological malignancies.

Keywords: COVID-19, patients with hematological malignancies, vaccination, therapy