Abstract: TH-PO1093
Safety and Efficacy of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld) in Patients with Glomerular Diseases Who Received Rituximab
Session Information
- COVID-19 - I
November 02, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Fenoglio, Roberta, University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Sciascia, Savino, University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Roccatello, Dario, University Center of Excellence on Nephrologic, Rheumatologic and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of the Interregional Network for Rare Diseases of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, San Giovanni Bosco Hub Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Background
Patients on B-cell depleting agents may have a suboptimal response to vaccination, placing them at a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 or suffering from a more severe prognosis. Indeed, available data on pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) in subjects with glomerular diseases (GD) who received rituximab is limited.
Methods
We conducted a prospective study analyzing the safety and efficacy of tixagevimab/cilgavimab for pre-exposure prophylaxis in patients with GD who received rituximab in the previous 12 months. Rate of symptomatic infections and hospitalizations were compared to patients with GD treated with rituximab who refused to receive tixagevimab/cilgavimab.
Results
Tixagevimab/cilgavimab was administered to 22 patients (12 females, mean age 58,4±19,6 years) with GD diagnoses including membranous nephropathy, lupus nephritis, ANCA-associated vasculitis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. No patient treated with tixagevimab/cilgavimab experienced symptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 during the follow-up (mean observation time follow-up was 112 ± 23 days), while 11 out 28 controls (39,3%) reported a symptomatic infection (p=0,001), requiring hospitalization in 2 cases. Reported adverse events were mild, namely self-limiting headache (4), discomfort at the injection site (3), flu-like symptoms/myalgia (3), and fever (1). No serious adverse event, (e.g., cardiac events, anaphylaxis) was reported.
Conclusion
Pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) seems safe and lowering of about 40% the risk of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in vaccinated subjects with GD who received anti-CD20 therapy. Possible applications in the subset of patients who need immunosuppressive therapy, especially with Rituximab, in a pandemic setting might be envisaged.