1. Transient leukocytopenia following combination therapy for COVID-19
- Author
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Yuzo Suzuki, Kazuo Tsuchiya, Mineo Katsumata, Naoki Inui, Yuko Tanaka, Sho Takuma, Yoichiro Aoshima, Tomoyuki Fujisawa, Takafumi Suda, Hirofumi Watanabe, Yusuke Inoue, Yutaro Nakamura, Yoshinari Endo, Yasutaka Mochizuka, Hironao Hozumi, Kazuki Furuhashi, Noriyuki Enomoto, Masato Karayama, Atsuki Fukada, and Kyohei Oishi
- Subjects
Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Combination therapy ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Baricitinib ,Remdesivir ,COVID-19 ,Leukopenia ,Combined Modality Therapy ,Leukocytopenia ,Anesthesia ,Absolute neutrophil count ,Retrospective analysis ,Humans ,Medicine ,In patient ,business ,Rapid Communication ,Dexamethasone ,Retrospective Studies ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Background Combination therapy with dexamethasone, remdesivir, and baricitinib has become a promising treatment for moderate or severe COVID-19; however, we have observed transient leukocytopenia in COVID-19 patients who received combination therapy. Methods Twelve consecutive COVID-19 patients treated with combination therapy were included in this retrospective analysis. Blood cell counts collected at the following three time points were analyzed: before the start of therapy (period 1), within 24 h of starting therapy (period 2), and within 48 h of period 2 (period 3). Results The leukocyte count significantly decreased in period 2 compared to period 1 and then significantly increased in period 3 without withdrawal of baricitinib. The neutrophil count transiently decreased in period 2 and recovered in period 3. Conclusions Clinicians should be aware of transient leukocytopenia in patients with COVID-19 during the early phase of combination therapy.
- Published
- 2022