Efficacy of COVID convalescent plasma therapy in hospitalized moderate coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Covid Convalescent Plasma (CCP) failed to demonstrate its efficacy in severe and life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. However, the role of CCP in hospitalized moderate cases is unclear. This study aims to examine the efficacy of administering CCP to hospitalized moderate coronavirus disease 2019 patients. METHODOLOGY: An open-label randomized controlled clinical trial design was used from November 2020 - August 2021 at two referral hospitals in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the primary outcome was mortality at 14 days. The secondary outcomes were mortality at 28 days, the time-to-discontinuation of supplemental oxygen, and the time-to-hospital discharge. RESULTS: This study recruited 44 subjects, and the intervention arm consisted of 21 respondents who received CCP. The control arm consisted of 23 subjects who received standard-of-care treatment. All subjects survived during the fourteen-day follow-up period, and the 28-day mortality rate in the intervention group was lower than the control (4.8% vs 13.0%; p = 0.16, HR = 4.39 (95% CI = 0.45-42.71). There was no statistically significant difference in the time-to-discontinuation of supplemental oxygen and time-to-hospital discharge. During the total follow-up period (41 days), the mortality rate in the intervention group was also lower than the control (4.8% vs 17.4%, p = 0.13, HR = 5.47, 95% CI = 0.60-49.55). CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that in hospitalized moderate COVID-19 patients, CCP did not reduce 14-day mortality compared to the control. Mortality during 28 days and total length of stay (41 days) were lower in the CCP group compared to the control, although they did not reach statistical significance.

A comparative study of the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among cancer patients: mRNA versus non-mRNA.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients have an increased risk of a severe COVID-19 infection with higher mortality rate. This study aimed to analyze the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG and NAB among cancer patients who were vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines, either with BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, AZD1222/ChAdOx1nCoV-19, or Coronavac/BBIBP-CorV vaccines. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among subjects with either solid or hematological cancers who had received two doses of either mRNA or non-mRNA vaccines within 6 months. The levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG and NAb were analyzed using the Mindray Immunoassay Analyzer CL-900i. Statistical analysis was conducted using mean comparison and regression analysis. RESULT: The mRNA-1273 vaccine had the highest median levels of S-RBD IgG and NAb, followed by BNT162b, ChAdOx1nCoV-19, and BBIBP-CorV/Coronavac. The levels of S-RBD IgG and NAb in subjects vaccinated with mRNA vaccines were significantly higher than those of non-mRNA vaccines when grouped based on their characteristics, including age, type of cancer, chemotherapy regimen, and comorbidity (p<0.05). Furthermore, the S-RBD IgG and NAb levels between the subjects vaccinated with non-mRNA vaccines and the subjects vaccinated with mRNA vaccines were significantly different (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the same types of vaccines. This study demonstrated a very strong correlation between the level of S-RBD IgG and the level of NAb (R = 0.962; p<0.001). The level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG was consistently higher compared to the level of NAb. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, mRNA vaccines produced significantly higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG and NAb levels than non-mRNA vaccines in cancer subjects.

Complete blood count derived inflammatory biomarkers and the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG among cancer survivors receiving COVID-19 vaccines

Background: In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is mandatory to identify vulnerable people with cancers as they have impaired immune system that can lead to high mortality. This study analyzes the complete blood count (CBC) derived inflammatory biomarkers and the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (NAb) and spike protein's receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G (S-RBD IgG) among cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with either solid or hematological cancers who had received two-doses of COVID-19 vaccinations within six months. Results: From 119 subjects, the COVID-19 vaccines demonstrated laboratory efficacy (median NAb=129.03 AU/mL;median S-RBD IgG=270.53 AU/mL). The seropositive conversion of NAb reached 94.1% and S-RBD IgG reached 93.3%. Additionally, the S-RBD IgG had very weak correlation with absolute monocyte count (R=-0.185;p-value=0.044). The NAb also had very weak correlation with leukocyte (Kendall's tau-b (τb)=-0.147;p-value=0.019), absolute neutrophil count (τb=-0.126;p-value=0.044), absolute eosinophil count (τb=-0.132;p-value=0.034). Conclusion: The seropositivity rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG were significantly high. However, the CBC derived inflammatory biomarkers had poor correlation with anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG. Thus, anti-SARS-CoV-2 NAb and S-RBD IgG are currently the only reliable markers for measuring the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy which should be widely accessible.

Coagulation profile and correlation between D-dimer, inflammatory markers, and COVID-19 severity in an Indonesian national referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: Coagulopathy and inflammation are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. This study assessed D-dimer concentration and its correlation with inflammatory markers and COVID-19 severity. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 194 COVID-19 cases, with the severity of infection graded in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. We measured D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin on admission and determined the cutoff values for D-dimer and CRP and evaluated the correlation between D-dimer and CRP and ferritin. RESULTS: Median D-dimer, CRP, and ferritin concentrations were 2240 µg/L, 73.2 mg/L, and 1173.8 µg/mL, respectively. The highest median D-dimer value was seen in mild and moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The highest ferritin concentration was seen in severe ARDS. There was a significant correlation between D-dimer value and CRP (r = 0.327), but no significant correlation between D-dimer and ferritin (r = 0.101). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the combination of CRP ≥72.65 mg/L and D-dimer ≥1250 µg/L as a marker of COVID-19 severity was 0.722 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.615-0.781). CONCLUSION: The combination of CRP ≥72.65 mg/L and D-dimer ≥1250 µg/L can be used as marker of COVID-19 severity, with moderate accuracy.

Hematologic Profiles and Correlation Between Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio with Markers of Inflammation of COVID-19 in an Indonesian National Referral Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a pandemic with significant mortality and it is important to differentiate severe and non-severe cases. We conducted a study to evaluate hematologic profiles with inflammation markers in COVID-19 patients and to determine the correlation of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with disease severity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving hospitalized COVID-19 patients confirmed with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Lymphocyte count, NLR, C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin were evaluated in severe and non-severe COVID-19 cases at hospital admission. Data was analyzed using Spearman correlation. RESULTS: There were 41 patients aged 20 to 79 years with COVID-19; 33 (80.5%) were non-severe, and 8 (19.5%) were severe cases. There is a statistically significant difference in WBC, relative neutrophils and lymphocytes, NLR, and CRP between non-severe and severe cases. There is a strong correlation between NLR and CRP (r = 0.738; p < 0.001). Our findings show that NLR and absolute lymphocyte count, but not ferritin, play a role in differentiating between non-severe and severe COVID-19 cases. CONCLUSION: In COVID-19 cases, a strong correlation between NLR and CRP might suggest the use of NLR to differentiate between non-severe and severe cases, especially in a remote healthcare facility.