COVID-19 Impact on Pediatric Oncology and Hematology: A Report From the
French Society of Pediatric Oncology
Abstract
Introduction: Data regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
description are still limited in pediatric oncology. The French society
of pediatric oncology (SFCE) has initiated a study to better describe
the presentation and evolution of COVID-19 in patients followed in
French pediatric oncology and hematology wards. Methods: All patients
diagnosed with COVID-19 (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] positive
for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2], or
positive IgM serology, or chest computed tomography scan and clinical
signs typical of COVID-19) and followed in a SFCE center were enrolled.
Data from medical records were analyzed for all patients enrolled up to
the end of May 2020. Results: Data was available for 37 patients.
Thirty-one were children under 18 years of age. Nineteen patients were
female. Seventeen patients had a solid tumor, 16 had a hematological
malignancy and four recently underwent hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT) for non-oncological conditions. Twenty-eight
patients presented symptoms, most often with fever, cough, rhinorrhea
and asthenia. Ground-glass opacities were the most frequent radiological
finding with abnormalities mostly bilateral and peripherally
distributed. Twenty-four patients received chemotherapy a month prior to
COVID-19 diagnosis. Most patients did not require hospitalization. Three
patients required oxygen at the time of diagnosis. In total, five
patients were admitted in an intensive care unit because of COVID-19 and
one died from the disease. Conclusion: Children and young adults
infected with SARS-CoV-2 and treated for a cancer and/or with a HSCT may
be at risk for severe COVID-19 and should be closely monitored.
(NCT04433871)