A case of chronic kidney disease patient with rapid deterioration of renal function, hair loss, and spontaneous resolution of facial warts after COVID-19 infection

Background: Individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of experiencing severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19. This report presents the case of a patient with CKD who contracted COVID-19 and subsequently experienced rapid deterioration of kidney function, hair loss, and spontaneous remission of facial warts.

Case presentation: A 60-year-old Chinese man with a decade-long history of abnormal serum creatinine (Scr) levels and recently heightened fatigue sought treatment. The disease was previously managed and deemed resolved in 2020. However, when he contracted the novel coronavirus on December 20, 2022, he experienced persistent fatigue without other symptoms. In early January 2023, Scr levels was examined as more than 300 μmol/L. This was followed by hair loss, including eyebrows and lashes, and the spontaneous resolution of a longstanding facial wart. During this period, although the patient received kidney-protecting drugs and a lifestyle optimization, Scr increased continuously and the disease eventually progressed to the uremic stage. As the patient still had relatively abundant urine volume, the patient chose peritoneal dialysis treatment. At a two-month follow-up, he had adhered to the CAPD protocol without complications and his hair had begun to regrow. After eight months, his hair had mostly regrown, and his Scr levels kept stable.

Conclusion: This case may represent the inaugural instance of CKD patients experiencing rapid deterioration of renal function, hair loss, and spontaneous remission of common warts. The underlying mechanisms of this unique phenomenon warrant further researches and debate.