ABSTRACT
Early recognition of risk and start of treatment may improve unfavorable outcome of COVID-19. In the SAVE-MORE double-blind randomized trial, 594 patients with pneumonia without respiratory dysfunction at risk as defined by plasma suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) ≥ 6 ng/ml were 1:2 randomized to subcutaneous placebo or 100 mg anakinra once daily for 10 days; 85.9% were co-administered dexamethasone. After 28 days, anakinra-treated patients were distributed to lower strata of the 11-point World Health Organization ordinal Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS) (adjusted odds ratio-OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.26–0.50; P < 0.001); anakinra protected from severe disease or death (≥ 6 points of WHO-CPS) (OR: 0.46; P: 0.010). The median WHO-CPS decrease in the placebo and anakinra groups was 3 and 4 points (OR 0.40; P < 0.0001); the median decrease of SOFA score was 0 and 1 points (OR 0.63; P: 0.004). 28-day mortality decreased (hazard ratio: 0.45; P: 0.045) and hospital stay was shorter. (Sponsored by the Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04680949)
Subject(s)
Pneumonia , Sepsis , Death , COVID-19 , Respiratory Insufficiency , Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase I Deficiency DiseaseABSTRACT
BackgroundIn a previous open-label trial, early anakinra treatment guided by elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) prevented progression of COVID-19 pneumonia into respiratory failure. MethodsIn the SAVE-MORE multicenter trial, 594 hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia and plasma suPAR 6 ng/ml or more and receiving standard-of-care were 1:2 randomized to subcutaneous treatment with placebo or 100 mg anakinra once daily for 10 days. The primary endpoint was the overall clinical status of the 11-point World Health Organization ordinal Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS) at day 28. The changes of the WHO-CPS and of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were the main secondary endpoints. ResultsAnakinra-treated patients were distributed to lower strata of WHO-CPS by day 28 (adjusted odds ratio-OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.26-0.50; P<0.001); anakinra protected from severe disease or death (6 or more points of WHO-CPS) (OR: 0.46; P: 0.010). The median absolute decrease of WHO-CPS in the placebo and anakinra groups from baseline was 3 and 4 points respectively at day 28 (OR 0.40; P<0.0001); and 2 and 3 points at day 14 (OR 0.63; P: 0.003); the absolute decrease of SOFA score was 0 and 1 points (OR 0.63; P: 0.004). 28-day mortality decreased (hazard ratio: 0.45; P: 0.045). Hospital stay was shorter. ConclusionsEarly start of anakinra treatment guided by suPAR provides 2.78 times better improvement of overall clinical status in moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia. (Sponsored by the Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04680949)