Case Report: Unremitting COVID-19 Pneumonia, Viral Shedding, and Failure to Develop Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies for More Than 6 Months in Patient with Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treated with Rituximab

Abstract

Severe cases of COVID-19 are being reported in patients with comorbidities and drug-induced immunosuppression. The risk seems to depend on the type of immunosuppressive agents used, and it is particularly high with rituximab because of its long-lasting effects. We report a 71-year-old man with COVID-19, mantle cell lymphoma, and rituximab-associated immunodeficiency. His COVID-19 clinical course was severe, unremitting, prolonged, and with frequent acute exacerbations requiring hospitalization. Viral shedding and failure to develop anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies continued for at least 6 months.