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01-11-2021 | Acute Kidney Injury | Original Article

Pre-existing Autoantibodies Neutralizing High Concentrations of Type I Interferons in Almost 10% of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Intensive Care in Barcelona

Authors: Xavier Solanich, Raúl Rigo-Bonnin, Victor-David Gumucio, Paul Bastard, Jérémie Rosain, Quentin Philippot, Xosé-Luis Perez-Fernandez, Maria-Paz Fuset-Cabanes, Miguel-Ángel Gordillo-Benitez, Guillermo Suarez-Cuartin, Enric Boza-Hernandez, Antoni Riera-Mestre, Alba Parra-Martínez, Roger Colobran, Arnau Antolí, Sergio Navarro, Gemma Rocamora-Blanch, Mario Framil, Laura Calatayud, Xavier Corbella, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Francisco Morandeira, Joan Sabater-Riera

Published in: Journal of Clinical Immunology | Issue 8/2021

Abstract

Background

It is important to predict which patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 are at higher risk of life-threatening COVID-19. Several studies suggest that neutralizing auto-antibodies (auto-Abs) against type I interferons (IFNs) are predictive of critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objectives

We aimed to test for auto-Abs to type I IFN and describe the main characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care depending on whether or not these auto-Abs are present.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of all COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in whom samples were available, from March 2020 to March 2021, in Barcelona, Spain.

Results

A total of 275 (70.5%) out of 390 patients admitted to ICU were tested for type I IFNs auto-antibodies (α2 and/or ω) by ELISA, being positive in 49 (17.8%) of them. Blocking activity of plasma diluted 1/10 for high concentrations (10 ng/mL) of IFNs was proven in 26 (9.5%) patients. Almost all the patients with neutralizing auto-Abs were men (92.3%). ICU patients with positive results for neutralizing IFNs auto-Abs did not show relevant differences in demographic, comorbidities, clinical features, and mortality, when compared with those with negative results. Nevertheless, some laboratory tests (leukocytosis, neutrophilia, thrombocytosis) related with COVID-19 severity, as well as acute kidney injury (17 [65.4%] vs. 100 [40.2%]; p = 0.013) were significantly higher in patients with auto-Abs.

Conclusion

Auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of type I IFNs were found in 9.5% of patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 pneumonia in a hospital in Barcelona. These auto-Abs should be tested early upon diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as they account for a significant proportion of life-threatening cases.

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Title: Pre-existing Autoantibodies Neutralizing High Concentrations of Type I Interferons in Almost 10% of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Intensive Care in Barcelona
Authors: Xavier Solanich
Raúl Rigo-Bonnin
Victor-David Gumucio
Paul Bastard
Jérémie Rosain
Quentin Philippot
Xosé-Luis Perez-Fernandez
Maria-Paz Fuset-Cabanes
Miguel-Ángel Gordillo-Benitez
Guillermo Suarez-Cuartin
Enric Boza-Hernandez
Antoni Riera-Mestre
Alba Parra-Martínez
Roger Colobran
Arnau Antolí
Sergio Navarro
Gemma Rocamora-Blanch
Mario Framil
Laura Calatayud
Xavier Corbella
Jean-Laurent Casanova
Francisco Morandeira
Joan Sabater-Riera
Publication date: 01-11-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Acute Kidney Injury
SARS-CoV-2
Care
COVID-19
Interferon
Acute Kidney Injury
Published in: Journal of Clinical Immunology / Issue 8/2021
Print ISSN: 0271-9142
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2592
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-021-01136-x

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Pre-existing Autoantibodies Neutralizing High Concentrations of Type I Interferons in Almost 10% of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Intensive Care in Barcelona

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

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Conclusion

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