Background
It is not clear whether patients with some degree of immunosuppression have worse outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to healthy people.
Objective
To carry out a narrative review of the information available on infection by SARS-CoV-2 in immunosuppressed patients, especially patients with cancer, transplanted, neurological diseases, primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.
Results
Patients with cancer and recent cancer treatment (chemotherapy or surgery) and SARS-CoV-2 infection have a higher risk of worse outcomes. In transplant patients (renal, cardiac and hepatic), with neurological pathologies (multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica (NMODS), myasthenia gravis (MG)), primary immunodeficiencies and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in association with immunosuppressants, studies have shown no tendency for worse outcomes.
Conclusion
Given the little evidence we have so far, the behaviour of SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunosuppressed patients is unclear, but current studies have not shown worse outcomes, except for patients with cancer.
Antecedentes; No es claro si los pacientes con algún grado de inmunosupresión, tienen peores desenlaces en la infección por SARS-CoV-2, en comparación con la población sana.
Objetivo: Realizar una revisión narrativa de la información disponible sobre infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, especialmente pacientes con cáncer, trasplantados, patologías neurológicas, inmunodeficiencias primarias y secundarias.
Resultados: Los pacientes con cáncer y tratamiento reciente del mismo (quimioterapia o cirugía) e infección por SARS-CoV-2 tienen mayor riesgo de peores desenlaces. En los pacientes trasplantados (renal, cardiaco y hepático), con patologías neurológicas (esclerosis múltiple (EM), neuromielitis óptica (NMODS), miastenia gravis (MG)), inmunodeficiencias primarias e infección de virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en asociación con uso de inmunosupresores, los estudios no han mostrado tendencia a peores desenlaces.
Conclusión: Dada la poca evidencia con que contamos hasta el momento no es claro el comportamiento de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes con inmunosupresión, pero los estudios actuales no han mostrado peores desenlaces en este tipo de pacientes a excepción de los pacientes con cáncer.
Background
Sjögren’s Syndrome compromises the exocrine function, producing xerostomia and xerophthalmia. It can appear as an isolated condition or associated with other autoimmune diseases (polyautoimmunity). The Unstimulated Salivary Flow rate (UWSF) is used to quantify saliva production. There is no objective evidence to differentiate the values in patients with Sjögren’s versus healthy people or patients with non-Sjögren’s sicca. The objective of the present review was to evaluate the UWSF in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome in comparison to controls (healthy and non-Sjögren’s sicca patients).
Methods
A systematic literature review was carried out (PRISMA guidelines). Analytical observational studies of cases and controls, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies and randomized clinical trials (including healthy controls) were considered. The Medline/OVID, Lilacs, Embase, and Cochrane/OVID databases were consulted. MeSH, DeCS, keywords, and Boolean operators were used. The meta-analysis (RevMan 5.2) was done through the random-effects model [mean difference (MD)]. Level and quality of evidence were evaluated by the Oxford Center Levels of Evidence and Joanna Brigs list respectively.
Results
Thirty-two articles were included (20 were case-control studies, 6 were cross-sectional, 2 prospective cohort, 2 retrospective cohort, and 2 studies were abstracts) and 28 were meta-analyzed. The unstimulated whole salivary flow rate in the Sjögren’s group was lower than in controls (healthy and patients with non-Sjögren Sicca syndrome) (MD-0.18 ml/min; 95% CI, − 0.24 to − 0.13; chi2-P-value < 0.00001). Heterogeneity was 97% and there was publication bias (funnel plot). The level of evidence was mostly 3 or 4. The quality of evidence was met (97% of items valued).
Conclusion
For the first time, the unstimulated whole salivary flow rate is found to be lower in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome compared to controls (healthy and non-SS sicca) through a meta-analysis.
Trial registration
PROSPERO CRD42020211325.
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