Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the serum prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with biologic drugs
Bossa F, Carparelli S, Latiano A, Palmieri O, Tavano F, Panza A, Pastore M, Marseglia A, D'Altilia M, Latiano T, Corritore G, Martino G, Nardella M, Guerra M, Terracciano F, Sacco M, Perri F, Andriulli A
Published Mar 2021, in the Digestive and liver disease
Abstract
Background: Patients receiving biologic therapies are at risk for viral infections. This study investigated the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the serum prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with biologic drugs. Methods: Information on demography, co-morbidities, clinical data regarding IBD, symptoms suggestive of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, close contacts with SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, hospitalization, and therapies administered for COVID-19 was collected for all patients who were being treated with biologic drugs. All patients underwent SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. Results: Two hundred and fifty-nine patients (27 children) with a mean age of 42.2 ± 16.7 years (range 9 - 88) and a mean duration of disease of 13.4 ± 10 years (range 0.2 - 49) were enrolled. One hundred four patients (40.2%) had ulcerative colitis, and 155 (59.8%) had Crohn's disease. About the therapy: 62 patients were receiving infliximab, 89 adalimumab, 20 golimumab, 57 vedolizumab, 27 ustekinumab, 1 thalidomide, and 3 an experimental compound. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 2. Thirty-two patients (12.3%) reported respiratory symptoms, and 2 of them were hospitalized (0.77%). Two patients resulted positive for IgG against SARS-CoV-2 (0.77%). Conclusions: In patients with IBD, treatment with biologic drug does not represent a risk factor for the SARS-CoV-2 infection.