SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background and aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the first pandemic wave, SARS-CoV-2 had developed significant changes and mutations that resulted in the emergence of different strains. Each strain varies in its virulence and disease severity. Most reports have shown that the Omicron variant causes mild illness. Little is known about the impact of Omicron in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. We present patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who had infection with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 and their outcomes. Materials and methods Retrospective data from the records of the National Center for Cancer Care and Research from December 20, 2021, to January 30, 2022. Participants were adults over the age of 18 years with Omicron infection who had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia according to World Health Organization classifications from 2008 and 2016. Results Eleven patients with chronic myeloid leukemia had Omicron infection. All patients had a mild disease according to the World Health Organization classification of COVID-19 severity. The majority of patients were young males. Conclusions In patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, infection with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 usually results in mild disease not requiring hospitalization.

A Case Series of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Patients With Acute Leukemia

“…Most of the reports showed that Omicron causes milder disease. Interestingly, in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, the Omicron infection was reported to cause mild disease [ 14 ]. However, the effect on patients with acute leukemia is not well known.…”

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Omicron Variant in Patients with Philadelphia-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasm: A Single Center Experience

“…With the Omicron variant, our reported cases showed that MPN patients presented with mild illness. This looks similar to patients with Philadelphia-positive MPN, chronic myeloid leukemia, and acute leukemia, where the Omicron infection results in mild disease [23,24]. Infection with Omicron strain complicates our understanding of SARS-CoV-2; it makes the effect of the infection on MPN patients more complex, as currently, most of the population, including patients with MPN, have received vaccinations.…”

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Case Series

“…The second patient in our report was the only one to receive three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and he had the mildest course among them. Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia negative myeloproliferative neoplasms were reported to have a better prognosis after Omicron infection compared to patients with CLL [ 16 , 17 ]. In a recent study concerning the impact of the Omicron variant on CML patients, only three patients out of 11 were hospitalized, and no mortality was reported [ 16 ].…”

“…Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia negative myeloproliferative neoplasms were reported to have a better prognosis after Omicron infection compared to patients with CLL [ 16 , 17 ]. In a recent study concerning the impact of the Omicron variant on CML patients, only three patients out of 11 were hospitalized, and no mortality was reported [ 16 ]. This might be attributed to the younger age and fewer comorbidities of these patients.…”