Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for COVID-19 ARDS

COVID-19: A case for plasma derived natural anticoagulants?

Convalescent plasma was proposed for passive immunization against COVID-19; but so far there are conflicting results and still open questions. However, besides antibodies, other plasma proteins may be good candidates for further research and application. Thromboinflammation frequently complicates severe COVID-19, and classical anticoagulants like heparins seem to have limited effect. The natural protease inhibitors antithrombin III (ATIII), α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) and α2-macroglobulin (α2-M), which are found decreased in severe COVD-19, play a crucial role in prothrombotic and inflammatory pathways. While ATIII and α1-AT are licensed as commercially prepared therapeutic concentrates, there is no preparation of α2-M available. The diagnostic, prognostic, and even therapeutic potential of plasma protease inhibitors should be further explored.

Targeting intracellular pathways in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: A narrative review

In recent decades, several pieces of evidence have drawn greater attention to the topic of innate immunity, in particular, interferon (IFN) and Interleukin 6 in the pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Both of these molecules transduce their signal through a receptor coupled with Janus kinases (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (STAT). In this review, we discuss the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in IIM, evaluate a possible therapeutic role for JAK inhibitors in this group of diseases, focusing on those with the strongest IFN signature (dermatomyositis and antisynthetase syndrome).

Abrogation of neutrophil inflammatory pathways and potential reduction of neutrophil-related factors in COVID-19 by intravenous immunoglobulin

Pathogenesis of lung injury in COVID-19 is not completely understood, leaving gaps in understanding how current treatments modulate the course of COVID-19. Neutrophil numbers and activation state in circulation have been found to correlate with COVID-19 severity, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been found in the lung parenchyma of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19. Targeting the pro-inflammatory functions of neutrophils may diminish lung injury in COVID-19 and ARDS. Neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors, treated ex vivo with dexamethasone, tocilizumab and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and NET formation, oxidative burst, and phagocytosis were assessed. Plasma from critically ill COVID-19 patients before and after clinical treatment with IVIG and from healthy donors was assessed for neutrophil activation-related proteins. While dexamethasone and tocilizumab did not affect PMA- and nigericin-induced NET production ex vivo, IVIG induced a dose-dependent abrogation of NET production in both activation models. IVIG also reduced PMA-elicited reactive oxygen species production, but did not alter phagocytosis. COVID-19 patients were found to have elevated levels of cell-free DNA, neutrophil elastase and IL-8 as compared to healthy controls. Levels of both cell-free DNA and neutrophil elastase were lower 5 days after 4 days of daily treatment with IVIG. The lack of impact of dexamethasone or tocilizumab on these neutrophil functions suggests that these therapeutic agents may not act through suppression of neutrophil functions, indicating that the door might still be open for the addition of a neutrophil modulator to the COVID-19 therapeutic repertoire.

Failed clinical trials on COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome in hospitalized patients: common oversights and streamlining the development of clinically effective therapeutics

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a strain on global healthcare systems. Despite admirable efforts to develop rapidly new pharmacotherapies, supportive treatments remain the standard of care. Multiple clinical trials have failed due to design issues, biased patient enrollment, small sample sizes, inadequate control groups, and lack of long-term outcomes monitoring.

AREAS COVERED

This narrative review depicts the current situation around failed and success COVID-19 clinical trials and recommendations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, oversights and streamlining of clinically effective therapeutics. PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and WHO and NIH guidelines were searched for relevant literature up to 5 August 2022.

EXPERT OPINION

The WHO, NIH, and IDSA have issued recommendations to better clarify which drugs should be used during the different phases of the disease. Given the biases and high heterogeneity of published studies, interpretation of the current literature is difficult. Future clinical trials should be designed to standardize clinical approaches, with appropriate organization, patient selection, addition of control groups, and careful identification of disease phase to reduce heterogeneity and bias and should rely on the integration of scientific societies to promote a consensus on interpretation of the data and recommendations for optimal COVID-19 therapies.