Rare anaemias, sickle-cell disease and COVID-19

For rare haematological diseases (RHD), the first question to be answered is if patients with benign red blood cell (RBC) defects like haemoglobinopathies, membranopathies and enzymopathies are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Up to now, there is no yet literature on the subject, but, like in general population, the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes, heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, reduced kidney and/or liver function, worsen the effects of the infection. Splenectomy may be an additional risk factor. (www.actabiomedica.it)