Protecting The Immuno-Compromised Against COVID Could Be Key To Ending The Pandemic

[whmk]

Protecting the ImmunoCompromised - that is us.

npr.org/sections/goatsandso...

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

The article highlights the risk of SARS-CoV-2 variants developing in those with HIV who can't clear the virus after a COVID-19 infection. Given there has been a similar case study of someone with CLL asymptomatic, yet exhibiting prolonged shedding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, let's hope this concern is followed up to help all of us, with and without immune immune systems.

See: cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-867...

Neil

[Indolent in reply to AussieNeil]

Sadly, until we reach herd immunity it's going to be a perilous time for us with compromised immune systems. Between "mask fatigue" and "mask ignorance", the stage is set for the Delta variants to create another surge. While the resulting suffering is unfortunate, there is a bright side. If the surge is big enough, it may hasten the arrival of herd immunity. This is called fixing a problem the hard way.

Those who understand the danger, will act with caution and most likely be ok.

[gardening-girl in reply to AussieNeil]

There is a second report of a COVID-19 CLL patient, in this case symptomatic, who had prolonged (>290 days) viral persistence with the development of multiple viral mutations.

Chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral evolution in a hypogammaglobulinaemic individual

medRxiv preprint

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

"Conversion to PCR negativity and dramatic symptomatic improvement was achieved only after administration of casirivimab and imdevimab" on day 265 post diagnosis.

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Interesting. Indeed a virus won't mutate unless in a susceptible host. And then only if the conditions allow. I have read how HIV clinicians are energised by the SARS CoV2 behaviour.I remain mindful, other viruses exist and may exercise the same freedoms allowing variants to develop. Thinking influenza. Could be a busy flu season coming up. Perhaps out of this extraordinary period of history progress will be made in the understanding of the immune system, to all our benefit. Afterall its the battle front we CLLers are all are so 'busy' with.

Jig

[LeoPa]

This is how the Kent variant came into existence. In a CLL patient on monoclonals, right?

[bennevisplace in reply to LeoPa]

Quite possibly. Clues in another case study

sciencemag.org/news/2020/12...

[michaeledward in reply to LeoPa]

So, do I understand you to say that those of us who have CLL, should we happen to get Covid, we should not get the monoclonal treatments?????

[LeoPa in reply to michaeledward]

Not at all. What we should do is to try and not infect others. We could become a biological weapon turned lose.

[bennevisplace]

And another nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/N...

[LeoPa in reply to bennevisplace]

This is exactly the way I don't want to pass in. 😞

[bennevisplace in reply to LeoPa]

One would hope that by now there is an established protocol for treating Covid patients who are known to be immunocompromised. For one thing, get some Covid-specific mAbs into them PDQ. So why are these not yet available in the UK?

[mbear]

Well we have conveniently been forgotten. Found a link on BBC website enabling you to send them something of interest. Said the governmenth and scientists keep publishingle the effectiveness of the vaccines, yet the fact that people with blood cancers who are showing to have a poor response are never mentioned. There was much more detail but that was the gist of it. Only sent this yesterday, don't know if they'll respond. Believe we need to be championing our situation. Contact local radio stations, papers, minister of health MP's whatever, it's up to us no one else is going to fight our cause.