Esposito, F.; Matthes, H.; Schad, F. Seven COVID-19 Patients Treated with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Apheresis. J. Clin. Med.2022, 11, 1956.
Esposito, F.; Matthes, H.; Schad, F. Seven COVID-19 Patients Treated with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Apheresis. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 1956.
Esposito, F.; Matthes, H.; Schad, F. Seven COVID-19 Patients Treated with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Apheresis. J. Clin. Med.2022, 11, 1956.
Esposito, F.; Matthes, H.; Schad, F. Seven COVID-19 Patients Treated with C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Apheresis. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 1956.
Abstract
Background: The fulminant course of COVID-19, triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents with a high mortality rate and still lacks a causative treatment. C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to increase dramatically during the disease progression and correlates with deleterious outcomes. Selective CRP apheresis can reduce circulating CRP levels fast and effective. Methods: Seven hospitalized patients with documented severe COVID-19 progression, elevated CRP plasma levels (> 100 mg/L) and signs of respiratory failure were treated with CRP apheresis. 2-12 CRP apheresis sessions were performed generally in 24 h time intervals and depending on CRP plasma levels. Results: CRP apheresis reduced CRP plasma levels by up to 84% within a few hours, without exhibiting side effects in any patient. Despite signs of severe lung infiltration in all patients, only one patient died. The other patients showed improvements within the chest x-ray after CRP apheresis and were able to recover regardless of intubation and/or ECMO (4 patients). All remaining six patients were discharged from the hospital in good clinical condition. All patients had comorbidities. Conclusions: This case series presents a mortality rate of only 14%, which is dramatically lower than expected from the presented CRP levels as well as comorbidities and ventilation require-ments. Our clinical observations regarding the here presented seven patients support the hypoth-esis that CRP is a candidate to be therapeutically targeted in the early stage of severe COVID-19.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Medicine and Pharmacology
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