Journal Information
Vol. 42. Issue S2.
Pages 522 (November 2020)
Share
Share
Download PDF
More article options
Vol. 42. Issue S2.
Pages 522 (November 2020)
879
Open Access
CONSULTATIVE HEMATOLOGY IN A COVID-19 DEDICATED HOSPITAL: FAR BEYOND THROMBOEMBOLIC EVENTS
Visits
1727
A.A.G.S. Brandãoa,b, K. Tozatto-Maioa, G.H.H. Fonsecaa, E. Okazakia, B.D.G.C. Moraesa, A.M. Ferreiraa, M.C. Fariasa, M.F.D.D. Santosa, V. Mariano a Rochaa,b
a Division of Hematology, Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
b Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
This item has received

Under a Creative Commons license
Article information
Full Text

Introduction: Patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization may present hematological abnormalities which demand specialized evaluation. Although the correlation between COVID-19 and thromboembolic events is noteworthy, other hematological issues in this setting are less understood. Objective: To describe patients’ characteristics and the motivations for requesting hematological consultations in a large COVID-19 dedicated hospital. Methods: Retrospective, observational study, performed at Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, a large tertiary academic center, which was turned into a COVID-19 dedicated hospital during the 2020 pandemic. We analyzed all hematological consultations requested to inpatients from March 23rd to August 2 nd, 2020. Since May 2020, we have implemented an institutional protocol to guide antithrombotic prophylaxis and treatment, but assistant physicians could have applied different strategies at their discretion. Data were collected from patients’records using a specific questionnaire. Results: During the study period, hematological consultation was requested to 141 patients - 3.6% of all 3902 inpatients - of whom 33% were female; median age was 58 (12-88) years. Ninety-four percent of patients had at least one comorbidity, mainly arterial hypertension (57%), diabetes mellitus (29%) and obesity (18%). In 21% of cases, consultation was requested due to thromboembolic or bleeding events. In the 111 remaining patients, the main reasons were thrombocytopenia in 25%, anemia in 20%, pancytopenia in 15% and anticoagulation management in 15%. RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in 84% of patients; the remaining had a presumed diagnosis based on clinical-radiological presentation. Sixty-eight percent required ICU care and 32% died. The most common final diagnosis were, for anemias, inflammatory anemia; for abnormalities in platelet counts, sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia and reactive thrombocytosis; for white blood cell abnormalities, reactive hypereosinophilia and drug-induced neutropenia. In 12 cases, a new primary onco-hematological diagnosis was made, mainly chronic lymphocytic leukemia (5/12). Lymphopenia below 500/uL was correlated with death on univariate analysis. Discussion and conclusion: Consultative Hematology was frequently involved in COVID-19 inpatients care. Patients who had hematological abnormalities have shown a worse disease course, with high rates of ICU care and lethality. Lymphopenia was found in more severe cases. Further prospective studies are necessary to identify potential biomarkers of severity among hematological tests.

Idiomas
Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy
Article options
Tools