Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34725262›Full record

SynthesisRMD open2021

Immunomodulatory therapies for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection: an update of the systematic literature review to inform EULAR points to consider.

Alessia Alunno, Aurélie Najm, Xavier Mariette, Gabriele De Marco, Jenny Emmel, Laura Mason, Dennis G McGonagle, Pedro M Machado

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in RMD open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Alessia Alunno *Internal Medicine and Nephrology Unit, Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy alessia.alunno82@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-1105-5640
Aurélie Najm *Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-6008-503X
Xavier MarietteDepartment of Rheumatology, Université Paris-Saclay, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, INSERM UMR1184, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.ORCID 0000-0002-4244-5417
Gabriele De MarcoLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds & The NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2406-161X
Jenny EmmelLibrary & Evidence Research Centre, Medical Education, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds UK, Leeds, UK.
Laura MasonLibrary & Evidence Research Centre, Medical Education, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds UK, Leeds, UK.
Dennis G McGonagleLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds & The NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Pedro M MachadoNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8411-7972
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · GBUniversity of Leeds · GBInserm · FRLondon North West Healthcare NHS Trust · GBUniversity of Glasgow · GBUniversity of L'Aquila · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo update the EULAR 2020 systematic literature review (SLR) on efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

methodsAs part of a EULAR taskforce, a systematic literature search update was conducted from 11 December 2020 to 14 July 2021. Two reviewers independently identified eligible studies and extracted data on efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory agents used therapeutically in SARS-CoV-2 infection at any stage of disease. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with validated tools.

resultsOf the 26 959 records, 520 articles were eligible for inclusion. Studies were mainly at high or unclear RoB. New randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on tocilizumab clarified its benefit in patients with severe and critical COVID-19, mainly if associated with glucocorticoids. There are emergent data on the usefulness of baricitinib and tofacitinib in severe COVID-19. Other therapeutic strategies such as the use of convalescent plasma and anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies showed efficacy in subjects not mounting normal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses.

conclusionThis new SLR confirms that some immunomodulators (tocilizumab and JAK inhibitors) have a role for treating severe and critical COVID-19. Although better evidence is available compared with the previous SLR, the need of RCT with combination therapy (glucocorticoids+anti-cytokines) versus monotherapy with glucocorticoids still remains alongside the need for standardisation of inclusion criteria and outcomes to ultimately improve the care and prognosis of affected people. This SLR informed the 2021 update of the EULAR points to consider on the use of immunomodulatory therapies in COVID-19.

Indexed as

COVID-19ImmunotherapyCOVID-19 SerotherapyHumansImmunization, Passivebiological therapyCOVID-19inflammation

Identifiers

PMID34725262
PMCPMC8562527
OpenAlexW3209476592

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.