IBD patients should ‘not delay their infusion’ if stable with COVID-19 infection
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Use of biologics did not worsen stable SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease if given within 2 weeks of virus detection, according to research published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
“IBD patients who are stable and asymptomatic after SARS-CoV-2 can safely undergo infusion of a biologic,” Nabeel Khan, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, told Healio.
Using data from the Veteran Affairs Health System, Khan and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the impact of biologics on the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with IBD when given 1 to 2 weeks after infection. Parameters which signaled worsening of infection included ER visits, medication use, outpatient oxygen requirement and hospitalization related to SARS-CoV-2.
Among 107 patients (85% men; 73% white; median age, 52 years) with stable SARS-CoV-2 and IBD (52% ulcerative colitis), 40% received a biologic infusion 0 to 7 days after testing positive for COVID-19 infection and 60% received an infusion 8 to 14 days after a positive test. Researchers noted a predominant use of infliximab (63%) and its biosimilars (infliximab-abda: 26%; infliximab-dyyb: 6%) compared with vedolizumab (37%).
According to study results, there was no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 symptom exacerbation in the 2 weeks following biologic infusion among patients with IBD.
“The findings of this study are very reassuring in that they do not detect any signal of worsening of stable SARS-CoV-2 when biologics are given soon after the detection of infection,” Khan and colleagues wrote. “Our findings suggest that patients should maintain their scheduled use of biologics in the setting of stable SARS-CoV-2 and not delay their infusion. Delays of infusion could possibly lead to worsening of IBD symptoms or the development of antibodies, and it is best not to have any interruption.”
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