Managing patients with multiple myeloma during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from an expert panel – ABHH monoclonal gammopathies committe

• Main Authors: Vania Hungria, Marcia Garnica, Edvan de Queiroz Crusoé, Roberto Jose Pessoa de Magalhaes Filho, Gracia Martinez, Rosane Bittencourt, Danielle Leão Cordeiro de Farias, Walter Moises Braga, Jorge Vaz Pinto Neto, Glaciano Nogueira Ribeiro, Angelo Maiolino
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-07-01
• Series: Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy
• Subjects: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Multiple myeloma
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137920300547

Since the World has been facing the COVID-19 pandemic, special attention has been taken concerning cancer patients; related to their immunosuppression status, adding risk for more aggressive COVID-19 and mortality, but also concerns about the access and the quality of care in cancer therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts the number of infected, its related mortality, as well as the care of cancer patients. Multiple myeloma patients are a particular group with several important aspects to be considered during pandemic times. In essence, they are immunosuppressed in different intensities during their treatment. Most of them are elderly and all of them require long-term therapy, with prolonged contact with the health care system, possibly including a stem cell transplant during the treatment. A panel of experts in multiple myeloma and infectious diseases discusses pieces of evidence and the lack of the same in the scenario of COVID-19 in myeloma patients, while also exposing what is expected for the next phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.