Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab for COVID-19 Among Patients with End Stage Renal Disease in Nakhonpathom Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The aim is to investigate the rate of COVID-19 infection in patients with end stage renal disease (ERSD) who has been prescribed Long Acting Antibody (LAAB) tixagevimab/cilgavimab for pre-exposure prophylaxis as well as the severity of COVID-19 if infected, and the adverse events of tixagevimab/cilgavimab.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of ESRD patients who had been prescribed tixagevimab/cilgavimab between August and December, 2022 in Nakhonpathom Hospital. Patient data collection was performed, including demographic data, underlying diseases, history of COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 infection within 6 months of prescriptions, symptoms/signs if infected, and the adverse events of tixagevimab/cilgavimab.

Results: There were 103 ESRD patients received tixagevimab/cilgavimab. Median age was 54.8 ± 13.8 (range 22 to 92) years and 59 (57.3%) were male. Most patients were on chronic hemodialysis (90 patients, 87.4%) followed by peritoneal dialysis in 11 patients (10.7%). Two were kidney transplant recipients. Of which, 5 (4.9%) patients contracted COVID-19 infection over six months. Symptoms in infected patients were mild and did not require hospitalization. Adverse events from tixagevimab/cilgavimab administration were found in 8 patients (7.8%), including pain at injection sites in 5 and fever in 3 patients. All events were mild and self-limiting.

Conclusion: A retrospective follow-up study revealed that Tixagevimab/cilgavimab was safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and severe COVID-19 in ESRD patients. Patients were found to have few symptoms of the disease and did not need to be admitted to the hospital.