Pancytopenia Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection—a Case Report

Abstract

Pancytopenia is a condition when a person has a low count of all three types of blood cells, causing a triage of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. It should not be considered a disease in itself but rather a sign of a disease that needs to be further evaluated. Among the various causes, viral infections like the human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and parvovirus B19 have been implicated. Pancytopenia is a rare complication and is not commonly seen in patients with COVID-19 disease. Here, we report a case of pancytopenia in a previously immunocompetent elderly male patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction

The most common laboratory findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are elevated inflammatory markers, hypercoagulable state and lymphopenia. Pancytopenia is a rare complication and is not commonly seen in immunocompetent patients with COVID-19 disease. The common causes of pancytopenia in clinical practise are megaloblastic anaemia, hypersplenism, drug-induced bone marrow toxicity, leukaemia, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive medications, connective tissue diseases and infections [1]. Pancytopenia as a result of direct bone marrow suppression has been previously reported in viral infections like human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and parvovirus B19. Here, we report a case of pancytopenia in a previously immunocompetent elderly male patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Case Presentation

A 69‐year‐old male presented to the hospital emergency department with complaints of fever, dry cough, fatigue and progressive breathlessness for 15 days. He gave history of hypertension but was not on any regular treatment and follow-up. On examination, he had a high blood pressure recording (150/90 mm Hg right arm supine) with tachycardia and tachypnoea and was not maintaining oxygen saturation at room air (SpO2 80% on room air). He was febrile (101°F) and had pallor. Initial laboratory workup on admission showed pancytopenia and deranged serum creatinine of 2.4 mg/dL (findings are summarised in Table 1). It showed total white blood cell count (WBC) 2,100/μL, haemoglobin 2.2gm/dL, platelet count 65,000/μL, urea 46 mg/dL, creatinine 2.4 mg/dL, total bilirubin 0.8 mg/dL, lactate dehydrogenases (LDH) 353 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 32U/L and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 84U/L. His nasopharyngeal swab test for SARS-CoV-2 PCR was positive. The chest radiograph showed non-homogenous opacities involving left mid and lower zones (Fig. 1). He was diagnosed as a case of severe COVID-19 disease with pancytopenia and was transferred to COVID-19 intensive care unit. He was managed with oxygen therapy, parenteral broad-spectrum antibiotics, packed red blood cell transfusion, dexamethasone (6 mg IV once a day), antihypertensives and anticoagulant therapy (renal-modified dose of injection low molecular weight heparin). His inflammatory markers were raised (C‐reactive protein 20.5 mg/L, D‐dimer 0.80 µg/L, ferritin 900 ng/mL, lactate dehydrogenase 353 IU/L). He was evaluated for the possible causes of pancytopenia which included leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, megaloblastic anaemia, infections, drug-induced bone marrow toxicity, radiation therapy, immunosuppressive medications and connective tissue diseases. He was not on any immunosuppressive medications previously. He also denied history of any radiation therapy and consumption of drugs known to cause bone marrow suppression. His serum antinuclear antibody test was negative which ruled out connective tissue diseases. His serum folate and vitamin B12 were within normal range. Peripheral blood microscopic examination showed pancytopenia and normocytic normochromic anaemia with moderate anisocytosis. Peripheral blood microscopic examination was not suggestive of megaloblastic anaemia, and there was no evidence of haemolysis, sepsis, or atypia (Fig. 2). He underwent bone marrow aspiration and biopsy which showed hypocellular marrow with cellularity less than 20% and increase in fat spaces (Fig. 3). There were focal areas of marrow elements showing trilineage haematopoiesis with markedly diminished myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytic series. There was no evidence of leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), infections or metastatic deposits. Peripheral blood smear and bone marrow microscopic examination were suggestive of pancytopenia with hypocellular bone marrow (Figs. 2 and 3). He also underwent ultrasound of abdomen, which showed features of bilateral medical renal disease with no organomegaly. During the hospital course, three units of packed red blood cells were transfused to the patient. The patient's clinical condition and haematology parameters improved with therapy (Fig. 4). He was discharged on day 15 with WBC 7,200/μL, haemoglobin 7gm/dL and platelet count of 1,42,000/μL. His throat swab for SARS-CoV-2 PCR was negative at the time of discharge.

Table 1.

Laboratory findings

Test name	Result
Haemoglobin	2.2 g/dL
Total leucocyte count	2,100/µL
Differential leucocyte count	N-68%,L-29%,M-2%,E-1%
Platelet count	65,000/µL
INR	1.2
Urea	46 mg/dL
Creatinine	2.4 mg/dL
Uric acid	8.7 mg/dL
Albumin	2.1 gm/dL
Bilirubin total	0.3 mg/dL
Serum proteins	6.0 gm/dL
AST	32 U/L
ALT	84 U/L
Albumin	2.6 g/dL
Globulin	3.4 g/dL
Sodium	134 meq/L
Potassium	5.1 meq/L
LDH	353 U/L
D-dimer	0.8
Ferritin	900 ng/mL
CRP	20.3 mg/dL
Procalcitonin	< 0.5 ng/mL

INR international normalised ratio, AST aspartate aminotransferase, ALT alanine aminotransferase, LDH lactate dehydrogenase, CRP-C reactive protein

Fig. 1.

The chest radiograph showing non homogenous opacities involving left mid and lower zones

Fig. 2.

Peripheral blood smear

Fig. 3.

Bone marrow biopsy showed hypocellular marrow and increase in fat spaces

Fig. 4.

Haematological parameters during hospital stay

Discussion

The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus is the etiological agent for COVID-19 disease, and the respiratory system is involved in majority of patients. The clinical presentation of the disease is variable, including asymptomatic infection, mild upper respiratory infection and severe pneumonia with respiratory failure [2]. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 disease has significant effect on the haematopoietic system and haemostasis. The various haematological abnormalities reported in COVID-19 disease are lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and hypercoagulability [3]. Lymphopenia is the most common reported finding of all [3, 4]. Pancytopenia is a rare complication and is not commonly seen in patients with COVID-19 disease. Hypercoagulability and thrombotic complications are frequently encountered among COVID-19 patients with severe disease, and these are believed to be due to a hyperinflammatory response caused by the virus [5]. There are several thrombotic complications described in the literature. These include pulmonary thromboembolism, thoracic and abdominal aortic thrombosis, mesenteric ischemia, myocardial infarction, acute cerebrovascular accident and disseminated intravascular coagulation [6].

Pancytopenia is a condition when person has low count of all three types of blood cells causing a triage of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. It should not be considered as a disease in itself but rather the sign of a disease that needs to be further evaluated. The possible causes are nutritional deficiencies, megaloblastic anaemia, hypersplenism, malignancies, radiation therapy, chemotherapy drug-induced bone marrow toxicity, connective tissue diseases and immunosuppressive medications [1]. All these conditions were ruled out in our patient during hospital stay. Pancytopenia as a result of bone marrow suppression has been reported in viral infections and commonly implicated viruses are human immunodeficiency virus, parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus and ytomegalovirus [7]. The decreased myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytic series was observed in bone marrow biopsy of our patient indicating bone marrow suppression. There was no evidence of lymphoma, fibrosis and myelodysplasia in bone marrow biopsy. There are very few case reports on SARS-CoV2-induced pancytopenia [8]. Issa N et al. reported the first case of persistent pancytopenia associated with SARS-CoV2 bone marrow infiltration in an immunocompromised patient [9]. However, our patient was immunocompetent. He was detected to have chronic kidney disease during evaluation which alone could not explain the severe anaemia and associated pancytopenia. Ufuk F et al. reported a case of COVID-19-associated pancytopenia which was complicated by neutropenic enterocolitis [10]. Our patient responded well to the supportive care, and there were no complications during hospital stay. Once the patient’s infection resolved, his blood counts improved, and at the time of hospital discharge, his leucocyte and platelet count had normalized and only anaemia remained. Hersby DS et al. also reported a similar self-limiting clinical course of patient with COVID-19-induced pancytopenia [8].

The possible pathophysiology of pancytopenia secondary to SARS CoV2 infection could be linked to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE 2 receptor), which is present in bone marrow in lower levels [11]. It is possible that direct infection of myelocytes by SARS CoV-2 virus could lead to bone marrow suppression as seen in other viral infections like HIV, parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. Other possibility is that after viral infection, an antigenic epitope on myelocytes could be exposed which can lead to the production of autoantibody and destruction of blood cells. Also, hyperinflammatory state is a key feature of severe COVID‐19 disease and It is well known that certain cytokines, such as the interferons and tumour‐necrosis factor‐α can affect haematopoietic stem cells and thus impair hematopoiesis [12]. The lung is a site for platelet biogenesis and a reservoir for haematopoietic progenitors and with SARS‐CoV-2 infection leading to lung injury; it is possible that the destruction of lung haematopoietic progenitors could also contribute to the pancytopenia [13].

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to pancytopenia is rare. We reported a case of pancytopenia associated with COVID‐19 disease likely caused by bone marrow suppression.

Author Contribution

All the authors have been involved in the review of the case report.

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Declarations

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Consent to Participate

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Consent for Publication

Taken from patient.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.