JSON
Pang J, Xu F, Aondio G, Li Y, Fumagalli A, Lu M, Valmadre G, Wei J, Bian Y, Canesi M, Damiani G, Zhang Y, Yu D, Chen J, Ji X, Sui W, Wang B, Wu S, Kovacs A, Revera M, Wang H, Jing X, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Cao Y
Nat Commun 12 (1) 814 [2021-02-05; online 2021-02-05]
On the basis of Covid-19-induced pulmonary pathological and vascular changes, we hypothesize that the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug bevacizumab might be beneficial for treating Covid-19 patients. From Feb 15 to April 5, 2020, we conducted a single-arm trial (NCT04275414) and recruited 26 patients from 2-centers (China and Italy) with severe Covid-19, with respiratory rate ≥30 times/min, oxygen saturation ≤93% with ambient air, or partial arterial oxygen pressure to fraction of inspiration O2 ratio (PaO2/FiO2) >100 mmHg and ≤300 mmHg, and diffuse pneumonia confirmed by chest imaging. Followed up for 28 days. Among these, bevacizumab plus standard care markedly improves the PaO2/FiO2 ratios at days 1 and 7. By day 28, 24 (92%) patients show improvement in oxygen-support status, 17 (65%) patients are discharged, and none show worsen oxygen-support status nor die. Significant reduction of lesion areas/ratios are shown in chest computed tomography (CT) or X-ray within 7 days. Of 14 patients with fever, body temperature normalizes within 72 h in 13 (93%) patients. Relative to comparable controls, bevacizumab shows clinical efficacy by improving oxygenation and shortening oxygen-support duration. Our findings suggest bevacizumab plus standard care is highly beneficial for patients with severe Covid-19. Randomized controlled trial is warranted.
PubMed 33547300
DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-21085-8
Crossref 10.1038/s41467-021-21085-8
pmc: PMC7864918
pii: 10.1038/s41467-021-21085-8
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04275414
figshare: 10.6084/m9.figshare.13482810
figshare: 10.6084/m9.figshare.13482834