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Vol. 43. Issue 3.
Pages 385 (July - September 2021)
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Vol. 43. Issue 3.
Pages 385 (July - September 2021)
Letter to the Editor
Open Access
Hemoglobinopathy and COVID-19
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Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantipa,
Corresponding author
rujittika@gmail.com

Corresponding author at: Private Academic Consultant, Bangkok, Thailand
, Viroj Wiwanitkitb
a Private Academic Consultant, Bangkok, Thailand
b Dr DY Patil University, Pune, India
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Dear Editor,

We would like to share ideas on the publication “Hemoglobinopathy and pediatrics in the time of COVID-19.1” Vilela et al. concluded that, “Despite pediatric population with SCD needs more intensive care, the outcome after infection by COVID-19 is favorable.1” A previous report from Iran noted that patients with thalassemia/hemoglobinopathy had a possible susceptible nature to severe COVID-19.2 However, a report from Southeast Asia showed an opposite conclusion.3 Based on the data from our setting, Indochina, where beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin E are very common, only a few cases (less than 5) among more than 20,000 local COVID-19 patients had associated hemoglobinopathy. This marked low incidence might confirm the hypothesis on COVID-19 resistance of patients with hemoglobinopathy. Additionally, all infected cases with underlying hemoglobinopathy usually have mild symptoms. The effect of standard iron chelation therapy in patients with hemoglobinopathy is a possible explanation for mild COVID-19.4 Pharmacologically, the iron chelating agent can suppress endothelial inflammation, which is the main pathophysiologic mechanism in COVID-19.4

References
[1]
TS Vilela, JAP Braga, SR Loggetto.
Hemoglobinopathy and pediatrics in the time of COVID-19.
Hematol Transfus Cell Ther, 43 (2021), pp. 87-100
[2]
M Karimi, S Haghpanah, A Azarkeivan, S Matin, A Safaei, V De Sanctis.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity in patients with thalassemias: a nationwide Iranian experience.
Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis, 13 (2021 Jan 1),
[3]
KI Papadopoulos, W Sutheesophon, S Manipalviratn, TC Aw.
A Southeast Asian perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic: hemoglobin E (HbE)-trait confers resistance against COVID-19.
Med Sci Monit Basic Res, 27 (2021 Jan 5),
[4]
M Dalamaga, I Karampela, CS Mantzoros.
Commentary: could iron chelators prove to be useful as an adjunct to COVID-19 treatment regimens?.
Metabolism, 108 (2020 Jul),
Copyright © 2021. Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular
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