Περίληψη:
Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) is one of the first coronavirus
strains being described. It is linked to common cold symptoms in healthy
adults. Younger children and the elderly are considered vulnerable to
developing lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). In particular,
immunocompromised patients have been reported with severe and
life-threatening LRTIs attributed to HCoV-229E. We report for the first
time a case of LRTI and acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in
a healthy adult with no comorbidities and HCoV-229E strain identified as
the only causative agent. A 45-year-old female with a clear medical
history presented with fever, cough, and headache. Respiratory tract
infection was diagnosed, and empirical antibiotics were started. Within
two days, she developed bilateral pleural effusions, diffuse
consolidations, and ground glass opacities involving all lung fields.
She needed immediate oxygen supply, while ABGs deteriorated and chest
imaging and PaO2/FiO(2) indicated ARDS. Early administration of systemic
corticosteroids led to gradual clinical improvement. Multiplex PCR from
nasal secretions was positive only for HCoV-229E and negative for
multiple other pathogens. It remains to be elucidated how an
immunocompetent adult developed a life-threatening LRTI caused by a
“benign considered” coronavirus strain, the HCoV-229E.
Συγγραφείς:
Vassilara, Foula
Spyridaki, Aikaterini
Pothitos, George and
Deliveliotou, Athanassia
Papadopoulos, Antonios
