What is it about?
Survival with COVID-19 after transplantation is lower than for people without this condition. In 133 cases of COVID19 after lung transplantation collected in two German centers during the pandemic outcome of patients was analyzed. Twenty-three percent died associated with COVID-19.It was found out that older patients had a higher risk of death and early single infusion with an antibody cocktail against this coronavirus improved survival. Forty-four patient were treated with this antibody cocktail, most of them as outpatients. This was true for vaccinated transplant recipients as well but most patient had a poor response to vaccination in terms of their own antibody production.
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Why is it important?
This study shows that designed drugs during the pandemic can improve outcome of high-risk populations. A large effort was necessary with collaboration of researchers, industry partners, transplant specialists, local hospitals and infectious disease specialists.
Perspectives
With the new coronavirus variants (e.g. Omicron) the antibody cocktail in this study will no longer work and new drugs for early treatment must be used. Prevention, preemptive and early treatment of infections is crucial after transplantation.
Jens Gottlieb
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Benefit of monoclonal antibodies in early treatment of COVID-19 after lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis in two centres, European Respiratory Journal, May 2022, European Respiratory Society (ERS),
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00124-2022.
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