AUTHOR=Taliani Gloria , Follini Elena , Guglielmetti Lorenzo , Bernuzzi Patrizia , Faggi Alberto , Ferrante Patrizia , Fronti Elisa , Gerna Laura , Leoni Maria Cristina , Paolillo Franco , Ratti Giovanna , Ruggieri Alessandro , Valdatta Caterina , Donisi Alessandra , Zangrandi Adriano , Pochintesta Lara , Moroni Carlo , Sacchini Daria , Vallisa Daniele , Codeluppi Mauro , the COVID-Piacenza Group , Aschieri Daniela , Barbera Mario , Cagnoni Carlo , Cavanna Luigi , Franco Cosimo , Gorrini Chiara , Magnacavallo Andrea , Nolli Massimo , Piepoli Massimo , Schiavo Roberta , Silva Matteo , Stabile Marco , Rossi Angela , Vadacca Giovanni TITLE=Case Report: B Lymphocyte Disorders Under COVID-19 Inflammatory Pressure JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.582901 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.582901 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects humans through the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor expressed on many cells, including lymphocytes. In Covid-19 patients IL-6 is overexpressed, and hyperactivated plasmacytoid lymphocytes are detected in peripheral blood film. We hypothesize that, due to the unpredictable interaction between the new virus and the B cell lineage of infected patients, a cascade of out of control events can ensue, capable of determining unexpected pathologic disorders involving such lineage. Here we report two cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and two cases of B-cell hematological malignancies developed or reactivated during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The temporal relationship of the events may suggest a potential causal relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the hematopoietic disorders. We suggest that special attention should be paid to COVID-19 patients with underlining B cell lineage disorders.