Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Concomitant with COVID 19: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology

Background:

• COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a novel respiratory illness with diverse systemic symptoms.
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative neoplasm common in immunocompromised individuals.
• The interplay between COVID-19 and unmasking of CLL is not well-understood.

Observation:

• A 49-year-old man presented with moderate COVID-19 symptoms, including fever and shortness of breath.
• Initial blood work revealed high white blood cell count with absolute lymphocytosis.
• Flow cytometry confirmed the lymphocytosis was due to clonality, diagnosing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

Findings:

• This is the first reported case where COVID-19 infection was the initial presentation of CLL.
• The patient experienced a moderate COVID-19 infection despite having CLL and subsequently recovered.
• Lymphocytosis in COVID-19 patients can be an unexpected finding, potentially signaling other conditions.

Implications:

• Elevated lymphocytes in COVID-19 patients warrant consideration of secondary causes, such as malignancy.
• This case highlights the importance of thorough diagnostic workups for lymphocytosis in infectious disease presentations.
• Further research is needed to understand the implications of CLL in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.