COVID-19 Infection in Patients with Humoral Immunodeficiency: A Case Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) has infected many individuals worldwide and continues to pose a significant threat to those with weakened immune systems.

The data evaluating the clinical outcomes of patients with humoral immunodeficiencies that contract COVID-19 is limited and conflicting.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infections in patients with primary humoral immunodeficiency and compare results to current literature.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort review on 15 patients with a humoral immunodeficiency defined as Common Variable Immunodeficiency, Specific Antibody Deficiency, or unspecified hypogammaglobulinemia, who contracted COVID-19.

Severity scores were determined to evaluate the clinical outcomes of these patients.

RESULTS: Of our 15-patient cohort, 33% of individuals with a humoral immunodeficiency infected with COVID-19 had moderate to severe disease, requiring hospitalization or resulting in death.

COVID-19 mortality rate was found to be 7%.

All 5 of our patients with severe COVID-19 infection had at least 1 comorbidity or risk factor.

CONCLUSION: Within our cohort of humoral immunodeficient patients infected with COVID-19, we found a higher rate of moderate to severe COVID-19 infection and worse clinical outcomes, particularly in patients with comorbidities or risk factors.