Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection After 1 Year in a Patient with X-linked Agammaglobulinaemia
Authors: Rieke Gereon J ,   University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine I, Bonn, Germany,   German Center for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Germany, Monin Malte B ,   University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine I, Bonn, Germany,   German Center for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Germany, Breitschwerdt Sven ,   University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine I, Bonn, Germany,   German Center for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Germany, Boesecke Christoph ,   University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine I, Bonn, Germany,   German Center for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Germany, Schlabe Stefan ,   University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine I, Bonn, Germany,   German Center for Infection Research, partner-site Bonn-Cologne, Germany
Published: December 2022

Though a comprehensive analysis of the immunity following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been performed, little is known about the duration of this protection and the risk of reinfection. This lack of knowledge is of particular interest for patients with impaired immune function. In this report, we describe the course of infection of a 30-year-old male patient with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia, who was reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 after a primary infection 12 months earlier. The initial course of infection took place in April 2020 with the typical symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection accompanied by compatible changes in laboratory values and computed tomography. With no anti-viral treatment options at that time of the pandemic, only symptomatic therapy could be offered. Twelve months later (April 2021), the patient presented with a short course of fever and headache. Laboratory testing showed elevated C-reactive protein levels, while leukocytes, lymphocytes and lactate dehydrogenase levels were within range. The patient was admitted, and antibiotic treatment was started partially because procalcitonin levels were slightly elevated as well. The SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction was positive, and therapy with the monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 antibodies casirivimab/imdevimab (1,200 mg/1,200 mg, respectively) were initiated. The course of infection was mild, but low-flow oxygen had to be administered. It was not possible to distinguish between the contribution of the administered antibodies and the role of cytotoxic T-cells in the course of infection. Variant screenings confirmed the Wuhan strain of the virus for the first episode and the alpha variant for the second episode, thus confirming reinfection and ruling out long-term shedding. Neutralizing antibodies seem to play a crucial role in viral clearance and infection prevention, assuming patients with agammaglobulinaemia are at higher risk for a severe course of coronavirus disease 2019. Still, the specific role of neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T-cells is not fully understood. Reinfection among this patient population has only been described occasionally. Our case described a reinfection, which was confirmed by variant-testing. In addition, it gave insight into the rapid progression of testing and into specific anti-viral therapy over 1 year of the pandemic.