Favipiravir therapy for Covid-19 infection and tacrolimus toxicity in a kidney transplant patient on chronic eculizumab therapy


DİNÇER M. T., TRABULUS S., SEYAHİ N.

NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA, vol.35, no.4, pp.232-234, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.25259/nmji_378_21
  • Journal Name: NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.232-234
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Although the latest data show that complement activation has an essential role in the pathogenesis and severity of Covid-19, the data on the prognosis of patients using complement inhibitors during Covid-19 infection are scarce. There is no specific treatment for Covid-19 yet. The introduction of novel agents such as favipiravir may affect metabolism of immunosuppressive drugs. We report the clinical course of Covid-19 ina kidney transplant patient with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome on chronic eculizumab therapy. The patient had mild Covid-19 but had severe tacrolimus toxicity, which may be associated with favipiravir and eculizumab. The mild course of Covid-19 in our patient is encouraging for eculizumab use; on the other hand, unusually high levels of tacrolimus that we observed underlines the importance of frequent drug level monitoring in transplanted patients who are receiving new drugs. Natl Med J India 2022;35:232-4