According to researchers, the man was admitted to the Amsterdam University Medical Center in February 2022 with Sars-CoV-2 infection. At the time, he was taking immunosuppressants as part of treatment for blood cancer.
During treatment, the patient was using a medication that eliminates B lymphocytes (white blood cells), including those that normally produce antibodies to fight the Covid-19 virus.
Despite multiple vaccinations against the infection, the elderly man did not have specific IgG antibodies against the disease and his immune system was unable to eliminate the virus.
Based on analyzes of the samples collected, the researchers concluded that the coronavirus has developed resistance to sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment that is usually effective in mild and moderate cases of the disease.
The man died due to a return of the hematological condition after remaining positive for Sars-CoV-2 with high viral loads for a total of 613 days, with multiple symptomatic episodes and the need for hospitalization.
The persistent infection also led the patient to prolonged periods of isolation during hospitalization and the intensive use of personal protective materials, significantly reducing his quality of life.
