Plitidepsin as a successful rescue treatment for prolonged viral SARS-CoV-2 replication in a patient with previous anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody-mediated B cell depletion and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background: There is an urgent need for highly efficacious antiviral therapies in immunosuppressed hosts who develop coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with special concern for those affected by hematological malignancies.

Case Presentation: Here, we report the case of a 75-year-old male with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who was deficient in CD19CD20 B-lymphocyte populations due to previous treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. The patient presented with severe COVID-19 pneumonia due to prolonged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and was treated with two courses of the antiviral plitidepsin on a compassionate use basis.