Abstract

SANTARELLI, Ignacio Martín et al. MICROBIOLOGÍA CLINICA Y ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2023, vol.55, n.3, pp.8-8. ISSN 0325-7541.

When a SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test is performed, it may determine an indirect measureof viral load called cycle threshold (Ct). Respiratory samples with Ct <25.0 cycles are consideredto contain a high viral load. We aimed to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 Ct at diagnosis couldpredict mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies (lymphomas, leukemias, multiplemyeloma) who contracted COVID-19. We included 35 adults with COVID-19 confirmed by RT-qPCR performed at diagnosis. We evaluated mortality due to COVID-19 rather than mortalitydue to the hematologic neoplasm or all-cause mortality. Twenty-seven (27) patients survivedand 8 died. The global mean Ct was 22.8 cycles with a median of 21.7. Among the survivors,the mean Ct was 24.2, and the median Ct value was 22.9 cycles. In the deceased patients, themean Ct was 18.0 and the median Ct value was 17.0 cycles. Using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test,we found a significant difference (p = 0.035). SARS-CoV-2 Ct measured in nasal swabs obtainedat diagnosis from patients with hematologic malignancies may be used to predict mortality.

Keywords : Cycle threshold; Polymerase chainreaction; Hematologic neoplasms; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19.

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