scholarly journals Convalescent plasma for hospitalized patients with COVID-19: an open-label, randomized controlled trial

Author(s):  
Philippe Bégin ◽  
Jeannie Callum ◽  
Erin Jamula ◽  
Richard Cook ◽  
Nancy M. Heddle ◽  
...  

AbstractThe efficacy of convalescent plasma for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear. Although most randomized controlled trials have shown negative results, uncontrolled studies have suggested that the antibody content could influence patient outcomes. We conducted an open-label, randomized controlled trial of convalescent plasma for adults with COVID-19 receiving oxygen within 12 d of respiratory symptom onset (NCT04348656). Patients were allocated 2:1 to 500 ml of convalescent plasma or standard of care. The composite primary outcome was intubation or death by 30 d. Exploratory analyses of the effect of convalescent plasma antibodies on the primary outcome was assessed by logistic regression. The trial was terminated at 78% of planned enrollment after meeting stopping criteria for futility. In total, 940 patients were randomized, and 921 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Intubation or death occurred in 199/614 (32.4%) patients in the convalescent plasma arm and 86/307 (28.0%) patients in the standard of care arm—relative risk (RR) = 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94–1.43, P = 0.18). Patients in the convalescent plasma arm had more serious adverse events (33.4% versus 26.4%; RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.02–1.57, P = 0.034). The antibody content significantly modulated the therapeutic effect of convalescent plasma. In multivariate analysis, each standardized log increase in neutralization or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity independently reduced the potential harmful effect of plasma (odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.95 and OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87, respectively), whereas IgG against the full transmembrane spike protein increased it (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.14–2.05). Convalescent plasma did not reduce the risk of intubation or death at 30 d in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Transfusion of convalescent plasma with unfavorable antibody profiles could be associated with worse clinical outcomes compared to standard care.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Bégin ◽  
Jeannie Callum ◽  
Erin Jamulae Jamula ◽  
Richard Cook ◽  
Nancy M Heddle ◽  
...  

The efficacy of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 is unclear. While most randomized controlled trials have shown negative results, uncontrolled studies have suggested that the antibody content may influence patient outcomes. We conducted an open-label, randomized controlled trial of convalescent plasma for adults with COVID-19 receiving oxygen within 12 days of respiratory symptom onset. Patients were allocated 2:1 to 500 mL of convalescent plasma or standard of care. The composite primary outcome was intubation or death by 30 days. The effect of convalescent plasma antibodies on the primary outcome was assessed by logistic regression. The trial was terminated at 78% of planned enrollment after meeting stopping criteria for futility. 940 patients were randomized and 921 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Intubation or death occurred in 199/614 (32.4%) in the convalescent plasma arm and 86/307 (28.0%) in the standard of care arm; relative risk (RR) 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-1.43; p=0.18). Patients in the convalescent plasma arm had more serious adverse events (33.4% vs. 26.4%; RR=1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.57, p=0.034). The antibody content significantly modulated the therapeutic effect of convalescent plasma. In multivariate analysis, each standard log increase in neutralization or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity independently reduced the potential harmful effect of plasma (OR=0.74; 0.57-0.95 and OR=0.66; 0.50-0.87, respectively), while IgG against the full transmembrane Spike protein increased it (OR=1.53, 95% CI 1.14-2.05). Convalescent plasma did not reduce the risk of intubation or death at 30 days among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Transfusion of convalescent plasma with unfavourable antibody profiles may be associated with worse clinical outcomes compared to standard care.


F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1827
Author(s):  
Nicharat Sawangroj ◽  
Jiratha Budkaew ◽  
Bandit Chumworathayi

Background: Proton pump inhibitors are effective for functional dyspepsia but ineffective in relieving postprandial distress syndrome. Curcuma longa might be effective for postprandial distress syndrome. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Curcuma longa and simethicone for postprandial distress syndrome in an open-label randomized-controlled trial. Methods: This trial was conducted between July 2018 and February 2019. In total, 78 patients were randomly assigned to receive 4 weeks of treatment with 750 or 1,500 mg oral Curcuma longa per day or 240 mg simethicone per day. The patients assessed their symptoms using the dyspepsia Global Overall Symptom scale at baseline, week 2, and week 4. After stopping medication for 2 weeks, the patients assessed recurrent symptoms and day of recurrence by themselves at the end of week 6. Results: In total, 78 patients underwent randomization (27 in 750 mg Curcuma longa, 26 in 1500 mg Curcuma longa, and 25 in simethicone groups). After 2 weeks, there were no significant differences in all mean changes of symptoms scores (95%CI) of postprandial distress syndrome [-4.1 (-4.5, -2.6) vs -4.3 (-5.2, -3.3) vs -4.2 (-4.8, -3.5), P=0.954]. Over a period of 4 weeks, the reduction in mean scores was greater among participants receiving simethicone (although not statistically significant) compared with two intervention groups [-4.6 (-5.7, -3.6) vs -5.4 (-6.6, -4.1) vs -6.2 (-7.2, -5.2), P=0.122]. The rate of recurrence was significantly lower in simethicone than the two Curcuma longa groups (42.9 vs 45.5 vs 13.6%, P=0.047). There was no serious adverse event reported in all three groups. Conclusions: Curcuma longa had a similar effect on treatment outcomes to simethicone after 2 and 4 weeks, but the recurrence rate of symptoms was significantly higher without serious adverse events. Registration: Registered with the Thai Clinical Trials Registry on 31 January 2018; TCTR20180131001.


Author(s):  
Monika Sharma ◽  
Sita Thakur ◽  
Kamal Singh ◽  
Shashank Shekhar

Background: Hypertensive diseases are commonly seen during pregnancy and remain one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Mostly commonly preferred drugs by health care providers for treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy are labetalol and hydralazine. However, they require proper storage, intravenous access, and adequately trained staff for usage. Oral nifedipine in contrast is easier to use and widely available.  Objective of this study was to report the efficacy and safety of oral nifedipine as compared to intravenous labetalol for treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy.Methods: It was an open label randomized controlled trial in which 100 women with severe hypertension during pregnancy were enrolled. They were randomized to receive either incremental doses of intravenous labetalol every 20 minutes (total 300 mg) or 10 mg oral nifedipine every 20 minutes (up to 50 mg) to lower the blood pressure to safer levels.Results: Women receiving oral nifedipine took significantly less time to achieve target blood pressure [(37.6±23.3) minutes (SD) as compared to those receiving intravenous labetalol (52.0 minutes±27.95 (SD)]. Women receiving nifedipine for treatment also required significantly lesser doses to control the blood pressure [mean dose 1.8±1.1 (SD) versus 2.6±1.2 (SD) p=0.006]. There were two failures in labetalol group and one failure in nifedipine group. No serious adverse events were reported in either group.Conclusions: Oral nifedipine is equally efficacious to I.V. labetalol for treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy and is easier to use in low resource settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 676.1-676
Author(s):  
P. Klemm ◽  
J. Bär ◽  
I. Aykara ◽  
K. Frommer ◽  
E. Neumann ◽  
...  

Background:More than 95% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome (RS) leading to digital ulcerations (DU). In severe RS, intravenous application of prostaglandins is required. Moreover, these patients profit from an additional non-pharmacological treatment using hyperthermia to increase vasodilatation and perfusion, and to reduce pain.Serial locally applied water-filtered infrared A radiation (sl-wIRAR) is a hyperthermia treatment modality using infrared heat radiation in the range of 780-1400nm with high tissue penetration and low thermal load on the skin surface [1]. wIRAR has both, temperature-dependent and non-dependent effects, which do not inherit thermal energy transfer and/or relevant temperature changes [1]. It is therefore not only used in acute and chronic wound healing as it promotes perfusion, alleviates pain and has anti-infectious effects [2], but is also used in oncology [3] and rheumatology [4].Objectives:We conducted a randomized controlled trial with a follow-up visit after 2 weeks to evaluate the value of a high-frequent hyperthermia treatment using sl-wIRAR in comparison to a low-frequent hyperthermia treatment (our standard) in SSc patients with severe RS receiving Iloprost treatment.Methods:Eligible patients had SSc according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, were 18 to 80 years old and had RS requiring treatment with Iloprost in an in-patient setting. Key exclusion criteria were contraindications to any hyperthermia treatment such as infection or heat insensitivity. The trial was conducted at Campus Kerckhoff of Justus-Liebig University Giessen. Eligible patients were equally randomized to the intervention group (IG) receiving additional sl-wIRAR treatment (2 treatments for 30 min per day for 8 days) plus the standard of care (Iloprost treatment over 8 days plus daily carbon dioxide hand baths of 20 min) and the control group (CG) receiving only the standard of care. Primary outcome was the between-group difference in pain measured on a numeric rating scale (NRS) after intervention. Key secondary outcomes included a change in RS frequency, RS duration, and a change in Interleukin (IL) -6 and VEGF levels.Results:From 01.03.2020 to 31.12.2020 49 SSc patients met the inclusion criteria. 42 patients were enrolled (IG: 21, CG: 21). 38 patients (IG:19, CG: 19) completed the full trial period and were analyzed. There was no statistically significant between-group difference in pain levels (NRS) (p=0.284, Z -1.082 (Mann-Whitney U Test)) and thus the primary outcome was not met. Therefore, all p values for secondary outcomes are nominal. Intensity (Visual analogue scale 0-100mm) and duration (min) of RS were reduced in the IG (mean ± standard error) -14.579 ± 7.214 mm (p=0.058) and -2.917 ± 1.510 min (p=0.08), respectively. Intra- and inter-group comparison of IL-6 and VEGF levels showed no relevant change.Conclusion:The additive and frequent use of sl-wIRAR in the treatment of SSc patients with RS requiring Iloprost treatment does not improve outcomes regarding pain levels, RS intensity or frequency nor IL-6 and VEGF levels when compared to Iloprost treatment and low-frequent hyperthermia application.References:[1]Hoffmann G. Clinical applications of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) – a review. Phys Med Rehab Kuror. 2017;27(05):265–274.[2]Hoffmann G, Harte M, Mercer JB. Heat for wounds – water-fil- tered infrared-a (wIRA) for wound healing – a review. GMS Ger Med Sci. 2016;14:Doc08.[3]Notter M, Thomsen AR, Nitsche M, et al. Combined wIRA-hyperthermia and hypofractionated re-irradiation in the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer: evaluation of therapeutic outcome based on a novel size classification. Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(3): 606.[4]Klemm P, Eichelmann M, Aykara I et al. Serial locally applied water-filtered infrared a radiation in axial spondyloarthritis – a randomized controlled trial, International Journal of Hyperthermia, 37:1, 965-970.Acknowledgements:We acknowledge the help of Carina Schreiyäck.This study was in part supported by the Dr. med. h.c. Erwin Braun Foundation, Basel, a charitable, nonprofit Swiss scientific foundation approved by the Swiss Federal Administration. The foundation supports clinical investigation of waterfiltered infrared-A. The foundation was not involved in any content- or decision-related aspect of the study.This study was prospectively registered at www.drks.de (German Registry of Clinical Studies): DRKS00021098Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 3379-3385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahita Sadeghi ◽  
Ali Ali Asgari ◽  
Alireza Norouzi ◽  
Zahedin Kheiri ◽  
Amir Anushirvani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Currently no effective antiviral therapy has been found to treat COVID-19. The aim of this trial was to assess if the addition of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir improved clinical outcomes in patients with moderate or severe COVID-19. Methods This was an open-label, multicentre, randomized controlled clinical trial in adults with moderate or severe COVID-19 admitted to four university hospitals in Iran. Patients were randomized into a treatment arm receiving sofosbuvir and daclatasvir plus standard care, or a control arm receiving standard care alone. The primary endpoint was clinical recovery within 14 days of treatment. The study is registered with IRCT.ir under registration number IRCT20200128046294N2. Results Between 26 March and 26 April 2020, 66 patients were recruited and allocated to either the treatment arm (n = 33) or the control arm (n = 33). Clinical recovery within 14 days was achieved by 29/33 (88%) in the treatment arm and 22/33 (67%) in the control arm (P = 0.076). The treatment arm had a significantly shorter median duration of hospitalization [6 days (IQR 4–8)] than the control group [8 days (IQR 5–13)]; P = 0.029. Cumulative incidence of hospital discharge was significantly higher in the treatment arm versus the control (Gray’s P = 0.041). Three patients died in the treatment arm and five in the control arm. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions The addition of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir to standard care significantly reduced the duration of hospital stay compared with standard care alone. Although fewer deaths were observed in the treatment arm, this was not statistically significant. Conducting larger scale trials seems prudent.


Author(s):  
Prerana Jain ◽  
Jagjit Singh Dalal ◽  
Geeta Gathwala

Abstract Background Evidence is lacking regarding the optimal method of rewarming hypothermic low-birth-weight (LBW) pre-term neonates. We aim to evaluate the effect of rapid vs. slow rewarming in the management of moderate to severe hypothermia in LBW pre-term neonates. Methods In this open label, randomized controlled trial, 100 LBW (<2.5 kg), pre-term (<37 weeks) neonates with moderate to severe hypothermia (<36°C) was randomized to two groups of 50 each and received either rapid (at >0.5°C/h) or slow (at ≤0.5°C/h) rewarming rate till normothermia. The primary outcome was stabilization score [TOPS (temperature, oxygenation, perfusion and saturation) and MSNS (modified sick neonatal score)] at baseline, 6 and 24 h and mortality until discharge. Other neonatal morbidities were assessed as secondary outcomes. Results Mean TOPS score and MSNS score at baseline, 6 and 24 h of admission as well as change in score from baseline were similar between the two groups. The median rewarming rate [interquartile range (IQR)] was higher in rapid rewarming group than in the slow rewarming group [5.05°C/h (3.54–7.71) vs. 0.71°C/h (0.60–0.90); p < 0.001]. The median rewarming time taken in rapid rewarming group was lesser compared with that in the slow rewarming group [0.31 h (IQR 0.13–0.75) vs. 2.05 h (IQR 1.11–3.03); p < 0.001]. Mortality in rapid rewarming and slow rewarming group was similar [7/50 vs. 5/50; OR 1.46 (0.43–4.97), p = 0.538] Conclusion Rapid rewarming was as effective and safe as slow rewarming in the management of moderate to severe hypothermia in LBW pre-term neonates with similar short-term neonatal outcomes. CTRI number CTRI/2018/01/011187.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 5626-5632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivor Byren ◽  
Shruta Rege ◽  
Ed Campanaro ◽  
Sara Yankelev ◽  
Diane Anastasiou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe prevalence ofStaphylococcus aureuscausing prosthetic joint infection (PJI) supports investigation of higher doses of daptomycin in the management of PJI. This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial studying safety and efficacy of daptomycin (6 and 8 mg/kg of body weight) compared with standard-of-care therapy for PJI. This open-label study randomized 75 patients undergoing 2-stage revision arthroplasty to daptomycin at 6 or 8 mg/kg or a comparator (vancomycin, teicoplanin, or semisynthetic penicillin). After prosthesis removal, patients received 6 weeks of antibiotic treatment and a 2- to 6-week antibiotic-free period before implantation of a new prosthesis. Test of cure (TOC) was within 1 to 2 weeks after reimplantation. The primary objective was evaluation of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. Secondary objectives were clinical efficacy and microbiological assessments. Of 73 CPK safety population patients, CPK elevation of >500 U/liter occurred in 4 of 25 (16.0%) (daptomycin, 6 mg/kg) and 5 of 23 (21.7%) (daptomycin, 8 mg/kg) daptomycin-treated patients and 2 of 25 (8.0%) comparator patients. Adverse-event rates were similar among daptomycin and comparator groups. Among modified intent-to-treat patients at TOC, clinical success rates were 14 of 24 (58.3%) for 6 mg/kg daptomycin, 14 of 23 (60.9%) for 8 mg/kg daptomycin, and 8 of 21 (38.1%) for the comparator. Overall microbiological success at TOC was 12 of 24 (50.0%) for 6 mg/kg daptomycin, 12 of 23 (52.2%) for 8 mg/kg daptomycin, and 8 of 21 (38.1%) for comparator patients. In conclusion, daptomycin at 6 and 8 mg/kg given for up to 6 weeks was safe and appeared to be effective in managing staphylococcal PJI using a 2-stage revision arthroplasty technique in a total of 49 patients.


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