ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs).MethodsPatients with SRD with COVID-19 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) were included by their rheumatologists in a registry operated by the Greek Rheumatology Society in a voluntarily basis. Type, date and doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recorded, and demographics, type of SRD, concurrent treatment, comorbidities and COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation, need for oxygen supplementation and death) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.ResultsBetween 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, 195 patients with SRD with COVID-19 were included; 147 unvaccinated and 48 vaccinated with at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer n=38 or AstraZeneca n=10). Among vaccinated patients, 29 developed breakthrough COVID-19 >14 days after the second vaccine dose (fully vaccinated), while 19 between the first and <14 days after the second vaccine dose (partially vaccinated). Despite no differences in demographics, SRD type, treatment or comorbidities between unvaccinated and vaccinated patients, hospitalisation and mortality rates were higher in unvaccinated (29.3% and 4.1%, respectively) compared with partially vaccinated (21% and 0%) or fully vaccinated (10.3% and 0%) patients.ConclusionsVaccinated patients with SRD with breakthrough COVID-19 have better outcomes compared with unvaccinated counterparts with similar disease/treatment characteristics.

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Complement C3 activation contributes to COVID-19 pathology, and C3 targeting has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. We provide interim data from ITHACA, the first randomized trial evaluating a C3 inhibitor, AMY-101, in severe COVID-19 (PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg). Patients received AMY-101 ( n = 16) or placebo ( n = 15) in addition to standard of care. AMY-101 was safe and well tolerated. Compared to placebo (8 of 15, 53.3%), a higher, albeit nonsignificant, proportion of AMY-101–treated patients (13 of 16, 81.3%) were free of supplemental oxygen at day 14. Three nonresponders and two placebo-treated patients succumbed to disease-related complications. AMY-101 significantly reduced CRP and ferritin and restrained thrombin and NET generation. Complete and sustained C3 inhibition was observed in all responders. Residual C3 activity in the three nonresponders suggested the presence of a convertase-independent C3 activation pathway overriding the drug’s inhibitory activity. These findings support the design of larger trials exploring the potential of C3-based inhibition in COVID-19 or other complement-mediated diseases.

COVID-19-related severe respiratory failure (SRF) leads to mechanical ventilation increasing the in-hospital mortality substantially. Abundancy of lung fibroblasts (LFs) in injured lung tissue has been associated with the progression of respiratory failure in COVID-19. Aiming to reduce mortality in patients with SRF (PaO2/FiO2<100 mmHg) and considering the multi-mechanistic nature of severe COVID-19 pathogenesis, we applied a combined rescue treatment (COMBI) on top of standard-of-care (SOC: dexamethasone and heparin) comprised inhaled DNase to dissolve thrombogenic neutrophil extracellular traps, plus agents against cytokine-mediated hyperinflammation, such as anti-IL-6 receptor tocilizumab and selective JAK1/2 inhibitor baricitinib. COMBI (n=22) was compared with SOC (n= 26), and with two previously and consecutively used therapeutic approaches, including either IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra (ANA, n=19), or tocilizumab (TOCI, n=11), on top of SOC. In parallel, evaluation of immunothrombosis was assessed in vitro in human LFs, treated with the applied therapeutic agents upon stimulation with COVID-19 plasma. COMBI was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (p=0.014) and intubation rate (p=0.013), shorter duration of hospitalization (p=0.019), and prolonged overall survival after a median follow-up of 110+/-4 days (p=0.003). In vitro, COVID-19 plasma markedly induced tissue factor/thrombin pathway in LFs, while this effect was inhibited by the immunomodulatory agents of COMBI providing a mechanistic explanation for the clinical observations. These results suggest the design of randomized trials using combined immunomodulatory therapies in COVID-19-associated SRF targeting multiple interconnected pathways of immunothrombosis.

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