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Tocilizumab for Treatment of Children and Young Adults With Severe Acute COVID-19: Experience at a Quaternary-care Children's Hospital. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:119-121. [PMID: 36638396 PMCID: PMC9838604 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 16 children and young adults with severe acute COVID-19 who were treated with tocilizumab. Patients who were discharged by day 28 were more likely to be treated with tocilizumab earlier in their COVID-19 illness and had lower ferritin and interleukin-6 levels compared with those who were not discharged by day 28.
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Arish M, Qian W, Narasimhan H, Sun J. COVID-19 immunopathology: From acute diseases to chronic sequelae. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28122. [PMID: 36056655 PMCID: PMC9537925 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mainly targets the lung as a primary affected organ, which is also a critical site of immune cell activation by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, recent reports also suggest the involvement of extrapulmonary tissues in COVID-19 pathology. The interplay of both innate and adaptive immune responses is key to COVID-19 management. As a result, a robust innate immune response provides the first line of defense, concomitantly, adaptive immunity neutralizes the infection and builds memory for long-term protection. However, dysregulated immunity, both innate and adaptive, can skew towards immunopathology both in acute and chronic cases. Here we have summarized some of the recent findings that provide critical insight into the immunopathology caused by SARS-CoV-2, in acute and post-acute cases. Finally, we further discuss some of the immunomodulatory drugs in preclinical and clinical trials for dampening the immunopathology caused by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Arish
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Wei Qian
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Harish Narasimhan
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jie Sun
- Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.,Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.,corresponding author.
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Vulturar DM, Neag MA, Vesa ȘC, Maierean AD, Gherman D, Buzoianu AD, Orăsan OH, Todea DA. Therapeutic Efficacy and Outcomes of Remdesivir versus Remdesivir with Tocilizumab in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214462. [PMID: 36430945 PMCID: PMC9698366 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) generated many challenges to find an effective drug combination for hospitalized patients with severe forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including 182 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized between March and October 2021 in a Pneumology Hospital from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Among patients treated with standard of care, 100 patients received remdesivir (R group) and 82 patients received the combination of remdesivir plus tocilizumab (RT group). We compared the clinical outcomes, the inflammatory markers, superinfections, oxygen requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality rate before drug administration and 7 days after in R group and RT group. Borg score and oxygen support showed an improvement in the R group (p < 0.005). Neutrophiles, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum ferritin levels decreased significantly in RT group but with a higher rate of superinfection in this group. ICU admission and death did not differ significantly between groups. The combination of remdesivir plus tocilizumab led to a significantly improvement in the inflammatory markers and a decrease in the oxygen requirement. Although the superinfection rate was higher in RT group than in R group, no significant difference was found in the ICU admission and mortality rate between the groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiana-Maria Vulturar
- Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400332 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria Adriana Neag
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology Department, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Ștefan Cristian Vesa
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology Department, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca-Diana Maierean
- Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400332 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Gherman
- Department of Radiology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Anca Dana Buzoianu
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology Department, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Olga Hilda Orăsan
- 5th Department Internal Medicine, 4th Medical Clinic, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Doina-Adina Todea
- Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400332 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Atila C, Monnerat S, Bingisser R, Siegemund M, Lampart M, Rueegg M, Zellweger N, Osswald S, Rentsch K, Christ-Crain M, Twerenbold R. Inverse relationship between IL-6 and sodium levels in patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections: data from the COVIVA study. Endocr Connect 2022; 11:e220171. [PMID: 36006851 PMCID: PMC9578076 DOI: 10.1530/ec-22-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Objective Hyponatremia in COVID-19 is often due to the syndrome of inadequate antidiuresis (SIAD), possibly mediated by interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced non-osmotic arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. We hypothesized an inverse association between IL-6 and plasma sodium concentration, stronger in COVID-19 compared to other respiratory infections. Design Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study including patients with COVID-19 suspicion admitted to the Emergency Department, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, between March and July 2020. Methods We included patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 and patients with similar symptoms, further subclassified into bacterial and other viral respiratory infections. The primary objective was to investigate the association between plasma sodium and IL-6 levels. Results A total of 500 patients were included, 184 (37%) with COVID-19, 92 (18%) with bacterial respiratory infections, and 224 (45%) with other viral respiratory infections. In all groups, median (IQR) IL-6 levels were significantly higher in hyponatremic compared to normonatremic patients (COVID-19: 43.4 (28.4, 59.8) vs 9.2 (2.8, 32.7) pg/mL, P < 0.001; bacterial: 122.1 (63.0, 282.0) vs 67.1 (24.9, 252.0) pg/mL, P < 0.05; viral: 14.1 (6.9, 84.7) vs 4.3 (2.1, 14.4) pg/mL, P < 0.05). IL-6 levels were negatively correlated with plasma sodium levels in COVID-19, whereas the correlation in bacterial and other viral infections was weaker (COVID-19: R = -0.48, P < 0.001; bacterial: R = -0.25, P = 0.05, viral: R = -0.27, P < 0.001). Conclusions IL-6 levels were inversely correlated with plasma sodium levels, with a stronger correlation in COVID-19 compared to bacterial and other viral infections. IL-6 might stimulate AVP secretion and lead to higher rates of hyponatremia due to the SIAD in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cihan Atila
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Monnerat
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland Bingisser
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Siegemund
- Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maurin Lampart
- Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marco Rueegg
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Núria Zellweger
- Department of Intensive Care, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Osswald
- Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Rentsch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Christ-Crain
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Twerenbold
- Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel (CRIB), University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- University Center of Cardiovascular Science & Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg–Kiel–Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
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Bahmani M, Chegini R, Ghanbari E, Sheykhsaran E, Shiri Aghbash P, Leylabadlo HE, Moradian E, Kazemzadeh Houjaghan AM, Bannazadeh Baghi H. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: Role of interleukin-6 and the inflammatory cascade. World J Virol 2022; 11:113-128. [PMID: 35665236 PMCID: PMC9150027 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v11.i3.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus that represents a serious threat to human lives has emerged. There is still no definite treatment for severe cases of the disease caused by this virus, named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One of the most considered treatment strategies targets the exaggerated immune regulator, and interleukin (IL)-6 is a crucial pro-inflammatory mediator. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases show an elevated level of IL-6 related to disease severity. IL-6 activity can be inhibited by the following: IL-6 itself, IL-6 signaling pathways such as Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), gp130, IL-6R, and downstream activated ILs, such as IL-17 and IL-6 cytokine. Currently, according to these studies and their results, IL-6 blockade with anti-IL-6 or its receptor antibodies such as tocilizumab in COVID-19 is beneficial in severe cases and may reduce the mortality rate. JAK-STAT inhibitors block the cytokine storm by inhibiting several crucial pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6 and have shown various results in clinical trials. IL-6 induces IL-17 secretion, and IL-17 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory processes. Clinical trials of anti-IL-17 drugs are currently recruiting, and anti-gp130 antibody is preclinical. However, this agent has shown positive effects in inflammatory bowel disease clinical trials and could be tested for SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to review the role of IL-6 in the cytokine storm and studies regarding IL-6 and blockade of its inflammatory pathways in COVID-19 to determine if any of these agents are beneficial for COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohaddeseh Bahmani
- Department of Virology, Student Research Committee, Tabriz Univer-sity of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
| | - Rojin Chegini
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81745-33871, Iran
| | - Elham Ghanbari
- Department of Medical Science, Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 67159-59167, Iran
| | - Elham Sheykhsaran
- Department of Microbiology, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
| | - Parisa Shiri Aghbash
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
| | | | - Ehsan Moradian
- Department of Medical Science, Medical Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 5165665931, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi
- Department of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 15731, Iran
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Boppana TK, Mittal S, Madan K, Mohan A, Hadda V, Guleria R. Tocilizumab for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2022; 92. [DOI: 10.4081/monaldi.2022.2136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The effective treatment modalities for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are needed. As the primary cause of mortality is a hyperinflammatory state, the interleukin-6 antagonist tocilizumab has been used in multiple clinical studies. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of tocilizumab in reduction of mortality due to COVID-19. A systematic search of the Pubmed and Embase databases was performed to extract randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the use of tocilizumab therapy for COVID-19. An overall pooled mortality analysis was performed, and odds ratios were reported. Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Nine RCTs, including 6489 patients, were selected for meta-analysis. Seven trials reported 28-day mortality, and one trial each reported 21-day and 30-day mortality. There were 846 deaths among 3358 participants in the steroid group while 943 deaths among 3131 patients randomized to the control group (random-effects odds ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.03, p=0.11). There was some heterogeneity among the trials as the I2 value was 15%, with a p-value of 0.31. There was a reduction in the need for ICU admission in the tocilizumab group. A higher risk of secondary infections was noted in the tocilizumab group (fixed-effects odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.95, p=0.02). This meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrated that the use of tocilizumab was not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 and had higher odds of secondary infections.
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Conti V, Corbi G, Sellitto C, Sabbatino F, Maci C, Bertini N, De Bellis E, Iuliano A, Davinelli S, Pagliano P, Filippelli A. Effect of Tocilizumab in Reducing the Mortality Rate in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11070628. [PMID: 34357095 PMCID: PMC8307114 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11070628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Data supporting the use of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in COVID-19 are contrasting and inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to assess TCZ effectiveness in reducing the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, WILEY, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to evaluate observational studies and RCTs. The outcome was the mortality rate. Forty observational studies and seven RCTs, involving 9640 and 5556 subjects treated with Standard Therapy (ST) + TCZ or ST alone, respectively, were included. In patients treated with ST+TCZ, a higher survival (Log odds ratio = −0.41; 95% CI: −0.68 −0.14; p < 0.001) was found. Subgroups analyses were performed to better identify the possible interference of some parameters in modifying the efficacy of TCZ therapy on COVID-19 mortality. Separating observational from RCTs, no statistically significant (p = 0.70) TCZ-related reduction of mortality regarding RCTs was found, while a significant reduction (Log odds ratio = −0.52; 95% CI: −0.82 −0.22, p < 0.001) was achieved regarding the observational studies. Stratifying for the use of Invasive Mechanic Ventilation (IMV), a higher survival was found in patients treated with TCZ in the No-IMV and IMV groups (both p < 0.001), but not in the No-IMV/IMV group. Meta-regression analyses were also performed. The meta-analysis of observational studies reveals that TCZ is associated with reducing the mortality rate in both severe and critically ill patients. Although the largest RCT, RECOVERY, is in line with this result, the meta-analysis of RCTs failed to found any difference between ST + TCZ and ST. It is crucial to personalize the therapy considering the patients’ characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Conti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona”, 84125 Salerno, Italy
| | - Graziamaria Corbi
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG), Via G.C. Vanini, 5, 50129 Firenze, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0874404771
| | - Carmine Sellitto
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Francesco Sabbatino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
- Oncology Unit, University Hospital San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona, 84125 Salerno, Italy
| | - Chiara Maci
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Nicola Bertini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Emanuela De Bellis
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Antonio Iuliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Sergio Davinelli
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
| | - Pasquale Pagliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona, 84125 Salerno, Italy
| | - Amelia Filippelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Salerno, Italy; (V.C.); (C.S.); (F.S.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (E.D.B.); (A.I.); (P.P.); (A.F.)
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics Unit, University Hospital “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona”, 84125 Salerno, Italy
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