COVID-19 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients treated with belimumab: a retrospective clinical study.
Immunol Res
; 72(3): 418-429, 2024 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38133855
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Routine use of immunosuppressive agents in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) potentially increases the risk of adverse outcomes. belimumab, a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of SLE, remains untested for its specific impact on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms in these patients. Here, this research investigated the effect of belimumab on COVID-19 symptoms in SLE patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.METHODS:
This study enrolled SLE patients who underwent treatment with belimumab. After thorough screening based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data pertaining to COVID-19 for both the participants and their cohabitants were obtained through telephone follow-up. The potential impact of belimumab on COVID-19 was evaluated by comparing COVID-19 symptoms and medication use across various groups to investigate the association between belimumab treatment and COVID-19 in SLE.RESULTS:
This study involved 123 SLE patients, of whom 89.4% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among cohabitants of SLE patients, the SARS-CoV-2 positive rate was 87.2% (p = 0.543). Patients treated with belimumab exhibited a lower incidence of multiple COVID-19 symptoms than their cohabitating counterparts (p < 0.001). This protective effect was found to be partially related to the time of last belimumab administration. Among those with COVID-19, 30 patients opted to discontinue their anti-SLE drugs, and among them, 53% chose to discontinue belimumab. Discontinuing drugs did not increase the risk of hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.CONCLUSION:
This study concluded that treatment with belimumab did not increase susceptibility to COVID-19 and beneficially alleviated the symptoms of COVID-19.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados
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SARS-CoV-2
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COVID-19
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Inmunosupresores
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Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Immunol Res
Asunto de la revista:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China