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Case Reports
. 2021 Feb:103:607-610.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.188. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Down Syndrome patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A high-risk category for unfavourable outcome

Serena Vita  1 , Virginia Di Bari  1 , Angela Corpolongo  2 , Delia Goletti  1 , Joaquin Espinosa  3 , Sebastiano Petracca  4 , Fabrizio Palmieri  1 , Emanuele Nicastri  1 ; INMI COVID-19 study groups
Collaborators, Affiliations
Case Reports

Down Syndrome patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A high-risk category for unfavourable outcome

Serena Vita et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

We report two cases of Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) in patients with Down Syndrome (DS) and describe the identification, diagnosis, clinical course and management of the infection. Down Syndrome, which is caused by trisomy 21, is characterized by immune dysregulation, anatomical differences in the upper respiratory tract and higher rate of comorbidities. All these risk factors can contribute to more severe clinical presentations of COVID-19 in this population. It is essential to raise awareness of the clinical relevance of SARS-COV-2 infection in DS patients, as well as in other most vulnerable patients, in order to improve their management and treatment and to encourage vaccinating these individuals early, once a vaccination is available.

Keywords: COVID-19 pneumonia; Down syndrome; Immune activation; Immune dysregulation.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and immune dysregulation and other potential risk factors present in individuals with Down Syndrome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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