Sotrovimab use in Japanese inpatients with COVID-19: post-infusion adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Sotrovimab neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 remained effective at the advent of B.1 lineage of the Omicron variant in outpatients. Primarily for hospitalized patients, however, the Japanese government regulated to administer this antibody agent. As this regulation enabled close monitoring in inpatients to investigate post-infusion adverse events (AEs) and efficacy, we attempted a retrospective study while the Omicron BA.1 lineage was dominant regionally. METHODS: Subjects were inpatients with COVID-19 who received infusion of sotrovimab in our institute. In line with previous clinical trials, we included patients at risk of COVID-19 worsening and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinees, who were hospitalized as directed by the government. For statistical analyses, we reviewed background factors of demographics, imaging, and laboratory findings for the outcome infusion-related reactions including post-infusion pyrexia over 38 degrees Celsius and/or pulse oximetry below 94%. RESULTS: In a total of 139 patients, the follow-up period had a median of 200 days (range, 154-248 days). Among 119 patients (85.6%) fully vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2, 86 (61.9% of all) underwent 2 doses while 33 (23.7% of all) received 3 doses. For the outcome of pyrexia and/or dyspnea (N = 40, 28.8%), multivariate analysis showed that significant risk factors were pre-infusion lowered oximetry below 96.5% (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.344, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.139-0.851, P = 0.021) and pre-infusion temperature more than 36.7 degrees Celsius (OR 4.056, 95% CI 1.696-9.701, P = 0.002). Infusion-related reactions included vomiting immediately after infusion, chill/shivering, dizziness, rash, pruritus, pyrexia, and dyspnea. The number of patients with any of these events was 44 (31.6%). Three patients (2.2%) showed worsening of COVID-19; one developed hypoxia and two died. Limitations for this study included no genome typing whether BA.1 or BA.2 lineage of the Omicron variant but the local epidemiology indicated the prevalence of BA.1. Another was sotrovimab administration for inpatients that allow precise detection of post-infusion events, confounding previous exacerbation definition including hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: For 24 h after infusion of sotrovimab, COVID-19 patients showing pre-infusion lowered oximetry below 96.5% and/or temperature more than 36.7 degrees Celsius may have temperature elevation or dyspnea, warranting close monitoring for these risk factors.

Medium-term impact of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine against disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Numerous case reports have referred to new onset or flare of SLE after SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Several observational studies showed that the short-term flare rate of SLE after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is low. However, well-controlled clinical surveys are unavailable and the medium-term impact of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines against the flare of SLE is uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to analyse the association between vaccination and medium-term subjective and objective disease activities of SLE and flares using matched pair methods. METHODS: Altogether, 150 patients with SLE from the Kyoto Lupus Cohort were included. Patients who received two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines were 1:1 matched with unvaccinated patients based on the first vaccination date. The outcome measures were the SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), the Japanese version of the SLE Symptom Checklist Questionnaire (SSC-J) and the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-SLEDAI flare index at 30, 60 and 90 days after vaccination. RESULTS: SLEDAI-2K levels were not significantly different in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with SLE at 30, 60 and 90 days after the second vaccination (adjusted estimate (95% CI): 30 days: -0.46 (-1.48 to 0.56), p=0.39; 60 days: 0.38 (-0.64 to 1.40), p=0.47; 90 days: 0.40 (-0.54 to 1.34), p=0.41). Similar results were observed in the SSC-J score (adjusted estimate (95% CI), 30 days: 0.05 (-1.46 to 1.56), p=0.95; 60 days: -0.63 (-2.08 to 0.82), p=0.40; 90 days: 0.27 (-1.04 to 1.58), p=0.69) and flare index (adjusted OR (95% CI), 30 days: 0.81 (0.36 to 1.85), p=0.62; 60 days: 1.13 (0.50 to 2.54), p=0.77; 90 days: 0.85 (0.32 to 2.26), p=0.74). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination did not significantly influence the medium-term subjective and objective disease activities or flares of SLE until 90 days after the second vaccination.

Casirivimab-imdevimab neutralizing SARS-CoV-2: post-infusion clinical events and their risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Casirivimab-imdevimab has been developed to neutralize SARS-CoV-2. The global clinical trials in outpatients documented several adverse effects (AE), which mandate caution in Japan where part of patients return home. To investigate post-infusion clinical events and their risk factors, we attempted a retrospective study. MAIN BODY: Subjects were a consecutive series of inpatients with COVID-19 undergoing an infusion of casirivimab-imdevimab in our institute. The criteria for administration were in accordance with previous clinical trials, e.g., exclusion of patients necessitating oxygen supply. In Japan, however, SARS-CoV-2 vaccinees were eligible. Methods were review of background factors of status, imaging, and laboratory findings for the outcome of post-infusion events such as temperature increase (Temp+), pulse oximetry below 94%, and other events. Also, we documented the drug efficacy. Of a total of 96 patients with a median follow-up of 54 days, one (1.0%) died who alone was an exception demanding oxygen supply. Other 95 patients (99.0%) recovered from fever and hypoxia by Day 4 and later had no worsening of COVID-19. Median increase of body temperature was 1.0 degrees Celsius, which was used for computation of Temp+. Multivariate analysis showed that for Temp+ (n = 47), white blood cell counts more than 4.3 × 103/microliter (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.593, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.060-6.338, P = 0.037) was at risk, whereas 2-time vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 (OR 0.128, 95% CI 0.026-0.636, P = 0.012) was a preventing factor. Likewise for lowered oximetry (n = 21), CT showing bilateral ground glass attenuation (OR 5.544, CI 1.599-19.228, P = 0.007) was a significant risk factor. Two patients (2.1%) showed bradycardia (asymptomatic, intervention not indicated) on Day 3 and recovery on Day 5. Limitations for this study included the difficulty distinguishing AE from worsening of COVID-19, thus we documented as clinical events. CONCLUSIONS: For 24 h after infusion of casirivimab-imdevimab, COVID-19 patients with increased white blood cell counts may be predisposed to temperature elevation more than 1.0 degrees centigrade, as may bilateral ground glass opacity to lowered oximetry. Thus, patients with leukocytosis and bilateral ground glass attenuation may need precaution for transient fever and hypoxia, respectively.

Perceptions and behaviours related to COVID-19 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the perceptions and behavioural changes related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determine their associations with patient characteristics, such as health literacy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November of 2020 and included 400 outpatients with RA aged 18 and above. We measured self-reported perceptions as outcomes, such as awareness, knowledge and behaviours related to COVID-19. Health literacy and other characteristics as exposures were investigated using self-report questionnaires and electronic health records. To analyse the association between patient factors and the outcomes, multivariable linear and logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: In total, 365 patients completed the survey. More than half (51%) of patients reported that they were 'very worried' about possible infection with COVID-19, whereas over 80% believed the possibility of getting COVID-19 was low. In the multivariable analyses, patients with low health literacy had limited knowledge about COVID-19 and did not change daily routines and perform preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this pandemic, healthcare providers may need to be aware of more vulnerable individuals and share COVID-19 related information promptly and effectively with their patients. Key Points • This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the perceptions and behavioural changes related to COVID-19 in patients with RA. • All patients were aware of COVID-19 and most of them worried about getting infected. • Health literacy, age, sex, disease activity and rheumatic drugs were associated with perceptions and behaviours related to COVID-19.