De novo pancytopaenia in an older adult with severe COVID-19 infection

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was recognised that SARS-CoV-2 can cause multisystem illness. Non-respiratory complications observed early in the pandemic were haematological in nature. A rare but serious haematological complication of COVID-19 infection is pancytopaenia. We describe a case of an older adult without pre-existing haematological disease or risk factors for cell dyscrasia with severe pancytopaenia induced by COVID-19, who developed critical illness requiring respiratory support in intensive care and died. Our case report highlights that de novo pancytopaenia may only present with mild dermatological manifestations and may indicate severe COVID-19 infection. Management is primarily supportive and early involvement of haematology should be sought.