ABSTRACT
Objective: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) is a con-dition seen in the early post-COVID-19 period and thought to develop with an impaired immune response. It has been usually reported in children but rarely in adults. Here we report the first MIS-A case series from Turkiye.Material and Methods: Six patients who met the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions MIS-A diagnostic criteria were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, laboratory, ra-diological characteristics and therapy regimes and outcomes of the patients were recorded.Results: All of our cases had a history of mild COVID-19. They presented with fever, severe fatigue and hypotension. Abnormal echocardiography findings were detected in five patients. Only one patient had multiple mucocutaneous findings. Common lab-oratory features were lymphopenia, markedly increased C-Reak-tive Protein, procalcitonin, pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), D-dimer, and ferritin. All patients had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody result. Corticosteroids and/or anakinra were used in five, Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in two patients. Low-mo-lecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was used for all cases. Empirically initiated antibiotic treatments were discontinued after cultures were negative. After anti-inflammatory treatment, the hypoten-sion of the patients resolved, they did not need intensive care follow-up and no mortality was seen in our cases.Conclusions: MIS-A is a severe and mortal condition that causes various clinical pictures and can be confused with sepsis. Anakin-ra, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, is a significant agent that can be used in the treatment of MIS-A since it blocks the cytokine cascade at an early stage. The satisfactory respons-es will be obtained with early diagnosis and anti-inflammatory treatment. In this period when the pandemic is not over yet, it is necessary to increase the awareness of clinicians about MIS-A, which can be fatal.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Disease severity, previous medications and immunosuppressive agents could affect the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to analyze variables affecting the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included adult patients who recovered from COVID-19 and were admitted to a COVID-19 follow-up unit. Eight patient groups were defined in accordance with the results of thoracic computed tomography (CT), SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, and tocilizumab or anakinra use during active disease. Anti-S IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA in serum samples. Anti-S positive and negative cases were compared. RESULTS: A total of 518 patients were included in the study. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were positive in 82.8% of patients. SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity, extent of lung involvement on CT, and time to antibody testing were independently associated with antibody positivity. Tocilizumab, anakinra or prednisolone use was not a factor affecting the antibody response. The rate of antibody response and sample/CO values among antibody-positive patients showed a linear relationship with the extent of lung involvement on CT. CONCLUSIONS: The use of tocilizumab, anakinra and prednisolone for COVID-19 did not affect the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. The main driver of antibody response among patients with COVID-19 was the extent of pulmonary involvement on CT.