Symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reinfection in a lupus patient treated with hydroxychloroquine: a case report

Astrid Muyldermans, Piet Maes, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga, Tine Anthierens, Olivier Goldberg, Magali Bartiaux, Oriane Soetens, Ingrid Wybo, Sigi Van den Wijngaert, Denis Piérard

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been used for hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients because of their antiviral and anti-inflammatory function. However, little research has been published on the impact of the immunomodulatory effect of (hydroxy)chloroquine on humoral immunity.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reinfection, diagnosed 141 days after the first episode, in a 56-year-old man of Black African origin treated with hydroxychloroquine for lupus erythematosus. No anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 IgG antibodies could be detected 127 days after the initial episode of coronavirus disease 2019.

CONCLUSIONS: The treatment with hydroxychloroquine probably explains the decreased immune response with negative serology and subsequent reinfection in our patient. As humoral immunity is crucial to fight a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the use of (hydroxy)chloroquine is likely to have a detrimental effect on the spread of the virus. This case emphasizes that more needs to be learned about the role of antibodies in protecting against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (re)infection and the role of (hydroxy)chloroquine on humoral immunity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number572
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Medical Case Reports
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

© 2021. The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
  • COVID-19/drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine/therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Reinfection
  • SARS-CoV-2

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