RESUMO

The use of biological immunotherapeutic drugs is one of the options currently being evaluated and employed to manage COVID-19, specifically monoclonal antibodies, which have shown benefit by regulating the excessive immune response seen in patients with severe infection, known as a cytokine storm. Tocilizumab has received particular importance for this clinical application, as has sarilumab. Both drugs share a substantial similarity in terms of pharmacodynamics, being inhibitors of the interleukin six receptor (IL-6Rα). Furthermore, sotrovimab, a neutralizing anti-SARS CoV-2 antibody, has gained the attention of the scientific community since it has recently been authorized under certain circumstances, positioning itself as a new therapeutic alternative in development. However, despite their clinical benefit, biological immunotherapies have the potential to generate life-threatening immune-related adverse events. Therefore it is essential to review their incidence, mechanism, and risk factors. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the safety of the biological immunotherapeutic drugs currently recommended for the treatment of COVID-19, provide a review of the known immune-mediated adverse events and explore the potential immune-related mechanisms of other adverse reactions.

RESUMO

Resumen En la actual pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) se ha observado que las principales complicaciones se presentan como resultado de la liberación de múltiples citocinas como interleucina (IL) 1, IL-6, factor de necrosis tumoral alfa e interferones de tipo 1 que generan un estado proinflamatorio caracterizado por lesión tisular pulmonar y subsecuentemente falla orgánica múltiple. En el campo de la hematología se cuenta con experiencia en el uso de diversos fármacos diseñados para limitar estas citocinas los cuales se han utilizado ya en pacientes con COVID-19 entre los que se encuentran los inhibidores de la IL-6 como el tocilizumab, el sarilumab y el siltuximab, el inhibidor de IL-1 anakinra y los inhibidores de la janus cinasa ruxolitinib y baricitinib. Al conocer la base fisiopatológica de la COVID-19, la utilidad de este tipo de fármacos muestra resultados alentadores para los cuadros moderados a graves de la enfermedad y extender su uso en ensayos clínicos mayores.

Abstract In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it has been observed that the main complications arise as a result of the release of multiple cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and type 1 interferons that generate a proinflammatory state characterized by lung tissue injury and subsequently multiple organ failure. In the hematology field, there is experience in the use of various drugs designed to limit these cytokines which have already been used in patients with COVID-19 including IL-6 inhibitors such as tocilizumab, sarilumab, and siltuximab; the IL-1 inhibitor anakinra; and the janus kinase inhibitors ruxolitinib and baricitinib. Knowing the pathophysiological basis of COVID-19, the usefulness of this type of drugs show encouraging results for moderate to severe symptoms of the disease and encourages its use in larger clinical trials.