COVID-19 in Hemodialysis Patients: A Report of 5 Cases

• Published in: American journal of kidney diseases Vol. 76; no. 1; pp. 141 - 143
• Main Authors: Wang, Rui, Liao, Cong, He, Hong, Hu, Chun, Wei, Zimeng, Hong, Zixi, Zhang, Chengjie, Liao, Meiyan, Shui, Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2020; by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc
• Subjects: Aged; Betacoronavirus; Case Report; chest radiograph; China - epidemiology; coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; COVID-19; diarrhea; Disease Outbreaks; end-stage renal disease (ESRD); Female; Hemodialysis; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic - etiology; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Renal Dialysis - methods; SARS-CoV-2; symptoms; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; China; COVID-19; symptoms; SARS-CoV-2; Hemodialysis; end-stage renal disease (ESRD); coronavirus; case report; chest radiograph; diarrhea
• DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.03.009
• ISSN: 0272-6386; 1523-6838

In December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in China and spread rapidly worldwide. It is unknown whether hemodialysis patients represent a distinct group of patients with certain characteristics that may make them susceptible to infection or severe disease. In this case report, we describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of COVID-19 infection in 201 maintenance hemodialysis patients in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, including 5 maintenance hemodialysis patients who contracted COVID-19 infection. Of the 5 patients with COVID-19 infection, one had a definite history of contact with an infected person. The age range of the patients was 47 to 67 years. Diarrhea (80%), fever (60%), and fatigue (60%) were the most common symptoms. Lymphopenia occurred in all patients. Computed tomography of the chest showed ground glass opacity in the lungs of all patients. Up to February 13, 2020, none of the patients had developed severe complications (acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, or multiple organ dysfunction) or died.