Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients

ZA Yetmar, E Beam, JC O'Horo… - Open forum …, 2021 - academic.oup.com
ZA Yetmar, E Beam, JC O'Horo, R Ganesh, DM Bierle, L Brumble, MT Seville…
Open forum infectious diseases, 2021academic.oup.com
Background Bamlanivimab and casirivimab-imdevimab are authorized for emergency use
treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients at high risk
for developing severe disease or hospitalization. Their safety and efficacy have not been
specifically evaluated in solid organ transplant recipients. Methods We retrospectively
reviewed solid organ transplant recipients who received monoclonal antibody infusion for
COVID-19 at Mayo Clinic sites through January 23, 2021. Outcomes included emergency …
Background
Bamlanivimab and casirivimab-imdevimab are authorized for emergency use treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients at high risk for developing severe disease or hospitalization. Their safety and efficacy have not been specifically evaluated in solid organ transplant recipients.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed solid organ transplant recipients who received monoclonal antibody infusion for COVID-19 at Mayo Clinic sites through January 23, 2021. Outcomes included emergency department visit, hospitalization, mortality, and allograft rejection.
Results
Seventy-three patients were treated, most commonly with bamlanivimab (75.3%). The median age was 59 years, 63% were male, and the median Charlson comorbidity index was 5. Transplant type included 41 kidney (56.2%), 13 liver (17.8%), 11 heart (15.1%), 4 kidney-pancreas (5.5%), 2 lung (2.7%), 1 heart-liver, and 1 pancreas. Eleven (15.1%) patients had an emergency department visit within 28 days of infusion, including 9 (12.3%) who were hospitalized for a median of 4 days. One patient required intensive care unit admission for a nonrespiratory complication. No patients required mechanical ventilation, died, or experienced rejection. Ten adverse events occurred, with 1 seeking medical evaluation. Hypertension was associated with hospital admission (P < .05), while other baseline characteristics were similar. The median time from symptom onset to antibody administration was 4 days in nonhospitalized patients compared with 6 days among hospitalized patients (P < .05).
Conclusions
Monoclonal antibody treatment has favorable outcomes with minimal adverse effects in solid organ transplant recipients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Earlier administration of monoclonal antibody therapy appears to be more efficacious.
Oxford University Press