1. Successful Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia With Clazakizumab in a Heart Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.
- Author
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Vaidya G, Czer LSC, Kobashigawa J, Kittleson M, Patel J, Chang D, Kransdorf E, Shikhare A, Tran H, Vo A, Ammerman N, Huang E, Zabner R, and Jordan S
- Subjects
- Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use, Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics, Receptors, Interleukin-6 antagonists & inhibitors, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 Drug Treatment, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized therapeutic use, Coronavirus Infections drug therapy, Coronavirus Infections immunology, Immunocompromised Host, Pneumonia, Viral drug therapy, Pneumonia, Viral immunology
- Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is characterized by an overwhelming cytokine response. Various treatment strategies have been attempted., Methods and Results: A 61-year-old man with heart transplantation in 2017 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea, and was confirmed positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Laboratory tests showed significant elevations in C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Echocardiogram showed left ventricular ejection fraction 58% (with ejection fraction 57% 6 months prior). Given the lack of clear management guidelines, the patient was initially managed symptomatically. However, the patient subsequently had a rapid respiratory deterioration with worsening inflammatory markers on day 5 of admission. Tocilizumab (anti-IL-6R) was in low supply in the hospital. The patient was offered clazakizumab (anti-IL-6) for compassionate use. Patient received 25 mg intravenously × 1 dose. Within 24 hours, he showed significant improvement in symptoms, oxygen requirements, radiological findings, and inflammatory markers. There was a transient leukopenia that improved in 4 days. He was discharged home on day 11, with negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR as an outpatient on day 35, development of positive serum COVID-19 IgG antibody, and he continued to do well on day 60, with no heart-related symptoms., Conclusion: Clazakizumab is a monoclonal antibody against human IL-6, which may be helpful in inhibiting the cytokine response to SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19. Although not yet FDA approved, it is being investigated for treatment of renal antibody-mediated rejection. Clinical trials of clazakizumab for treatment of COVID-19 are underway worldwide., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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