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Selected Publication:
SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb
Egger, M; Black, A; Robier, C.
Coincidence of plasma cell leukemia and COVID-19: a diagnostic pitfall
J HEMATOP. 2023; 16(2): 127-128.
Doi: 10.1007/s12308-023-00542-x
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- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Robier Christoph
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- Abstract:
- We report the case of a 66-year-old man with a known history of IgD multiple myeloma (MM) which was admitted to hospital because of acute renal failure. Routine PCR testing on admission yielded a positive result for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Examination of the peripheral blood (PB) smear revealed 17% lymphoplasmacytoid cells and a few small plasma cells mimicking morphological changes frequently seen in viral diseases. However, flow cytometric examination showed 20% clonal lambda-restricted plasma cells being consistent with a diagnosis of secondary plasma cell leukemia. Circulating plasma cells as well as similar appearing lymphocyte subtypes such as plasmacytoid lymphocytes are frequently observed in infectious disorders such as COVID-19, so that the lymphocyte morphology in our patient's case could have been easily misinterpreted as typical COVID-19-induced changes. Our observation highlights the importance of incorporating clinical, morphological, and flow-cytometric data in distinguishing between reactive and neoplastic lymphocyte changes because misinterpretation may affect disease classification and, beyond that, clinical decision-making, which may have serious consequences for patients.
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Lymphocyte morphology
- Plasma cell leukemia
- COVID-19