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Grasselli Kmet N, Lučovnik M, Jereb M, Nadrah K. Successful use of tocilizumab and casirivimab/imdevimab in a twin pregnancy with critical COVID-19 - A case report. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31737. [PMID: 38828309 PMCID: PMC11140779 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 in pregnancy is associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality as well as higher risk for hospitalization in intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation. We present a 38-year-old 21+5week pregnant unvaccinated woman with twins and critical COVID-19 pneumonia caused by Delta SARS-CoV-2 strain. Because of rapid worsening of respiratory condition despite standard of care treatment with steroids, she received a combination of casirivimab/imdevimab and tocilizumab. After therapy we noticed respiratory improvement and after 10 days she was extubated. Due to selective fetal growth restriction of one of the twins, a planned caesarean section was performed at 34+6 weeks. Presented case indicates favorable outcome and safe use of casirivimab/imdevimab and tocilizumab in critical COVID-19, as no severe or minor signs or symptoms in the case presentation were observed neither in the mother nor in infants during the time of observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Grasselli Kmet
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Lučovnik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Jereb
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kristina Nadrah
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Little JS, Kampouri E, Friedman DZ, McCarty T, Thompson GR, Kontoyiannis DP, Vazquez J, Baddley JW, Hammond SP. The Burden of Invasive Fungal Disease Following Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy and Strategies for Prevention. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae133. [PMID: 38887472 PMCID: PMC11181190 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a novel immunotherapy approved for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. This therapy leads to a variety of immunologic deficits that could place patients at risk for invasive fungal disease (IFD). Studies assessing IFD in this setting are limited by inconsistent definitions and heterogeneity in prophylaxis use, although the incidence of IFD after CAR T-cell therapy, particularly for lymphoma and myeloma, appears to be low. This review evaluates the incidence of IFD after CAR T-cell therapy, and discusses optimal approaches to prevention, highlighting areas that require further study as well as future applications of cellular therapy that may impact IFD risk. As the use of CAR T-cell therapy continues to expand for hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and most recently to include non-oncologic diseases, understanding the risk for IFD in this uniquely immunosuppressed population is imperative to prevent morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Little
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eleftheria Kampouri
- Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Z Friedman
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Todd McCarty
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - George R Thompson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Dimitrios P Kontoyiannis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jose Vazquez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Georgia/Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - John W Baddley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah P Hammond
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Silveira MAD, Menezes MDA, de Souza SP, Galvão EBDS, Berretta AA, Caldas J, Teixeira MB, Gomes MMD, Damiani LP, Bahiense BA, Cabral JB, De Oliveira CWLM, Mascarenhas TR, Pinheiro PCG, Alves MS, de Melo RMV, Leite FM, Nonaka CKV, Souza BSDF, Baptista NU, Teles F, da Guarda SF, Mendes AVA, Passos RDH. Standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) in COVID-19 outcomes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18405. [PMID: 37891178 PMCID: PMC10611696 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its different variants caused a "wave and wave" pandemic pattern. During the first wave we demonstrated that standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF®) reduces length of hospital stay in adult patients with COVID-19. Afterwards, we decided to evaluate the impact of EPP-AF in hospitalized patients during the third wave of the pandemic. BeeCovid2 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients. Patients were allocated to receive an oral dose of 900 mg/day of EPP-AF® or placebo for 10 days. The primary outcome was length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included safety, secondary infection rate, duration of oxygen therapy dependency, acute kidney injury and need for intensive care. Patients were followed up for 28 days after admission. We enrolled 188 patients; 98 were assigned to the propolis group and 90 to the placebo group. The post-intervention length of hospital stay was of 6.5 ± 6.0 days in the propolis group versus 7.7 ± 7.1 days in the control group (95% CI - 0.74 [- 1.94 to 0.42]; p = 0.22). Propolis did not have significant impact on the need for oxygen supplementation or frequency of AKI. There was a significant difference in the incidence of secondary infection between groups, with 6.1% in the propolis group versus 18.9% in the control group (95% CI - 0.28 [0.1-0.76], p = 0.01). The use of EPP-AF was considered safe and associated with a decrease in secondary infections. The drug was not associated with a significant reduction in length of hospital stay. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04800224).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Augusto Duarte Silveira
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil.
| | - Matheus de Alencar Menezes
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Sergio Pinto de Souza
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Erica Batista Dos Santos Galvão
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Andresa Aparecida Berretta
- Development and Innovation Department, Apis Flora Indl. Coml. Ltda, Rua Triunfo 945, Subsetor Sul 3, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14020-670, Brazil
| | - Juliana Caldas
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Maurício Brito Teixeira
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Marcel Miranda Dantas Gomes
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Lucas Petri Damiani
- Academic Research Organization, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Av. Albert Einstein, 627, Morumbi, São Paulo, SP, 05652-000, Brazil
| | - Bruno Andrade Bahiense
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Julia Barros Cabral
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | | | - Talita Rocha Mascarenhas
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Priscila Carvalho Guedes Pinheiro
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Milena Souza Alves
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Morel Vieira de Melo
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, Canela, Salvador, BA, 40110-909, Brazil
| | - Flávia Mendes Leite
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Carolina Kymie Vasques Nonaka
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Bruno Solano de Freitas Souza
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Bahia, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Nathália Ursoli Baptista
- Development and Innovation Department, Apis Flora Indl. Coml. Ltda, Rua Triunfo 945, Subsetor Sul 3, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14020-670, Brazil
| | - Flávio Teles
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas, Av. Lourival de Melo Mota S/N, Tabuleiro do Martins, Maceió, Alagoas, 57072-900, Brazil
| | - Suzete Farias da Guarda
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana s/n, Canela, Salvador, BA, 40110-909, Brazil
| | - Ana Verena Almeida Mendes
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
| | - Rogério da Hora Passos
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Hospital São Rafael, Avenida São Rafael 2152, São Marcos, Salvador, BA, 41253-190, Brazil
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Burger BJ, Epps SM, Cardenas VM, Jagana R, Meena NK, Atchley WT. Tocilizumab Is Associated with Increased Risk of Fungal Infections among Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 and Acute Renal Failure: An Observational Cohort Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1752. [PMID: 37629609 PMCID: PMC10455962 DOI: 10.3390/life13081752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Does treatment with tocilizumab increase the risk of a fungal infection in critically ill patients with coronavirus-19? BACKGROUND Numerous therapies have been evaluated as possible treatments for coronavirus-2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the interleukin-6 receptor that has found a role as a therapy for patients with severe coronavirus-19 pneumonia. The immunomodulatory effects of tocilizumab may have the unintended consequence of predisposing recipients to secondary infections. We sought to assess the risk of invasive fungal disease and the therapeutic impact of tocilizumab on the hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive-care-unit length of stay in critically ill patients with severe coronavirus-19 pneumonia. METHODS Records of critically ill patients with coronavirus-2019 admitted from March to September 2020 at our institution were reviewed. The risk for fungal infections, intensive-care-unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation in those that received tocilizumab in addition to standard coronavirus-2019 treatments was assessed. RESULTS Fifty-six critically ill patients treated with dexamethasone and remdesivir for coronavirus-2019 were included, of which 16 patients also received tocilizumab. The majority of the cohort was African American, Asian, or of other ethnic minorities (53.6%). Invasive fungal infections occurred in 10.7% of all patients, and infection rates were significantly higher in the tocilizumab group than in the control group (31.2% vs. 2.5%, risk difference [RD] = 28.8%, p < 0.01). The increased risk in the tocilizumab group was strongly associated with renal replacement therapy. There was a dose-response relationship between the risk of fungal infection and number of tocilizumab doses received, with 2.5% of infections occurring with zero doses, 20% with a single dose (RD = 17.5%), and 50% with two doses (RD = 47.5%) (trend test p < 0.001). In addition, ICU LOS (23.4 days vs. 9.0 days, p < 0.01), the duration of mechanical ventilation (18.9 vs. 3.5 days, p = 0.01), and hospital length of stay (LOS) (29.1 vs. 15.5, p < 0.01) were increased in patients that received tocilizumab. CONCLUSIONS Repurposed immunomodulator therapies, such as tocilizumab, are now recommended treatments for severe coronavirus-2019 pneumonia, but safety concerns remain. In this early pandemic cohort, the addition of tocilizumab to dexamethasone was associated with an increased risk of fungal infection in those that were critically ill and received renal replacement therapy. Tocilizumab use was also associated with increased ICU and hospital LOSs and duration of mechanical ventilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barrett J. Burger
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.K.M.)
| | - Sarenthia M. Epps
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.K.M.)
| | - Victor M. Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Rajani Jagana
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.K.M.)
| | - Nikhil K. Meena
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.K.M.)
| | - William T. Atchley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; (S.M.E.); (N.K.M.)
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Schmidt W, Pawlak-Buś K, Jóźwiak B, Leszczyński P. Identification of Clinical Response Predictors of Tocilizumab Treatment in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Based on Single-Center Experience. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062429. [PMID: 36983429 PMCID: PMC10051490 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperinflammation in COVID-19 plays a crucial role in pathogenesis and severity; thus, many immunomodulatory agents are applied in its treatment. We aimed to identify good clinical response predictors of tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment in severe COVID-19, among clinical, laboratory, and radiological variables. We conducted a prospective, observational study with 120 patients with severe COVID-19 not improving despite dexamethasone (DEX) treatment. We used parametric and non-parametric statistics, univariate logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nonlinear factors tertile analysis. In total, 86 (71.7%) patients achieved the primary outcome of a good clinical response to TCZ. We identified forty-nine predictive factors with potential utility in patient selection and treatment monitoring. The strongest included time from symptom onset between 9 and 12 days, less than 70% of estimated radiological lung involvement, and lower activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Additional predictors were associated with respiratory function, vitamin D concentration, comorbidities, and inflammatory/organ damage biomarkers. Adverse events analysis proved the safety of such a regimen. Our study confirmed that using TCZ early in the hyperinflammatory phase, before severe respiratory failure development, is most beneficial. Considering the described predictive factors, employing simple and widely available laboratory, radiological, and clinical tools can optimize patient selection for immunomodulatory treatment with TCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktor Schmidt
- Department of Rheumatology, Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases and Immunotherapy of Rheumatic Diseases, J. Strus Municipal Hospital, 61-285 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pawlak-Buś
- Department of Rheumatology, Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases and Immunotherapy of Rheumatic Diseases, J. Strus Municipal Hospital, 61-285 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
| | - Barbara Jóźwiak
- Department of Rheumatology, Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases and Immunotherapy of Rheumatic Diseases, J. Strus Municipal Hospital, 61-285 Poznan, Poland
| | - Piotr Leszczyński
- Department of Rheumatology, Systemic Connective Tissue Diseases and Immunotherapy of Rheumatic Diseases, J. Strus Municipal Hospital, 61-285 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
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