Anakinra: Timely Targeted Anticytokine Therapy for Severe COVID-19

Among patients with elevated soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor levels, standard care plus anakinra increased full recovery and lowered mortality compared with standard care alone.

Identifying patients at excess risk for severe COVID-19 is critical for devising treatment strategies (particularly those involving immune modulation) where early therapy is important. One predictor is plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen receptor (suPAR): Elevated suPAR has been associated with progression to severe respiratory failure. Accordingly, investigators in Greece and Italy designed a two-stage strategy to identify and treat patients with COVID-19 using anakinra, an interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist that blocks the activity of both IL-1α and IL-1β.

In this confirmatory trial involving 594 patients with COVID-19 and suPAR levels ≥6 ng/mL, 189 were randomized to standard care plus placebo and 405 to standard care plus a 10-day c…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Anakinra: Timely Targeted Anticytokine Therapy for Severe COVID-19

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Reviewing Author