• Lázaro Manuel Filgueira, Julio Betancourt Cervantes, Orlando Adolfo Lovelle, Carlos Herrera, Carlos Figueredo, Jorge Alain Caballero, Naivy Sánchez, Jorge Berrio, Geidy Lorenzo, Meylan Cepeda, Mayra Ramos, Danay Saavedra, Ana Laura Añe-Kouri, Zaima Mazorra, Kalet Leon, Tania Crombet, and Armando Caballero.
• Manuel Piti Fajardo University Hospital, Ciudad Escolar Abel Santamaría. U/M 9958, Santa Clara city, Villa Clara, Cuba.
• Immunotherapy. 2021 Mar 1; 13 (4): 289-295.

AbstractIn COVID-19, the inflammatory cytokine-release syndrome is associated with the progression of the disease. Itolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that recognizes human CD6 expressed in activated T cells. The antibody has shown to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. Its effect is associated with the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines release, including IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α. Here, we report the outcome of three severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with itolizumab as part of an expanded access protocol. Itolizumab was able to reduce IL-6 concentrations in all the patients. Two of the three patients showed respiratory and radiological improvement and were fully recovered. We hypothesize this anti-inflammatory therapy in addition to antiviral and anticoagulant therapy could reduce COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality.

36 keywords...

hide…