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 (IVIG) may be a safe treatment option for pregnant patients who have severe COVID-19, while also avoiding pregnancy complications, according to a study published in the 

While clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments have advanced at breakneck speed, pregnant patients have been largely excluded from initial studies, according to the authors of the current. Further, pregnant patients who are unvaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 have a greater risk of morbidity from severe COVID-19 versus patients of similar age and comorbidity status.

High-dose IVIG has been found to improve outcomes for individuals who have critical and severe COVID-19, according to 

. In that study, 255 individuals received IVIG, along with standard treatment, while 280 patients received the standard-of-care treatment. Investigators found that patients in the IVIG group required invasive ventilation significantly less often than the standard-of-care group at 33.2% and 40.4%, respectively. Additionally, in the IVIG Group, in-hospital mortality, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and 28-day mortality were all significantly lower. Individuals administered IVIG showed reduced in-hospital mortality of 10.2% and 28-day mortality of 8.9%.

The authors of the current study noted that IVIG has been found safe in treating pregnant patients with other diseases as well. They added that data show the potential of IVIG treatment in hospitalized patients with severe respiratory symptoms caused by COVID-19 when administered within 14 days of symptom onset.

For the study, the investigators gave IVIG (Privigen, CSL Behring) 0.5 g/kg daily for 3 straight days to 4 pregnant patients, ranging in age from 24-34 years, with gestational ages of 17, 26, 35, and 35 weeks. The patients were hospitalized with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 and were not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

All of the patients were administered concomitant glucocorticoid therapy and all patients were discharged home breathing room air following a mean hospital stay of 15 days. Two of the patients had an uncomplicated cesarean section at 35 weeks during their hospital stay, according to the study.

Pre-term pregnancies at 17 and 26 weeks were intact at the time of hospital discharge and had normal vaginal deliveries at term, according to the study.

“IVIG may be a safe treatment consideration in pregnant women with severe COVID-19 to avoid pregnancy complications. Its use warrants further study in pregnancy acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other respiratory viruses to which pregnant patients are vulnerable,” the study authors concluded.

This article was initially published by our sister publication Pharmacy Times.

Geriak M, McGrosso D, Gonzalez DJ, Dehner M, Sakoulas G. Case Series of Successful Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Treatment in 4 Pregnant Patients with Severe COVID-19-Induced Hypoxia. Am J Case Rep. 2022 May 14;23:e936734. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.936734. PMID: 35567293.

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Intravenous immunoglobulin shows promise as a treatment option for pregnant patients with SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and other respiratory viruses.

IVIG safe, effective for treating pregnant patients with severe COVID-19

New research from a team of investigators in Europe suggests hormonal changes during menopause could explain up to 10% of the increase in LDL-C associated with the transition to menopause among aging women.

An analysis of data from more than 200 women in a prospective study, results of the study suggest the hormonal shift in 17β-oestradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels among women transitioning from perimenopause to early postmenopause was associated with proatherogenic circulating metabolome alterations, with these metabolite shifts were partially ameliorated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

“Menopause is unavoidable but it is possible that the negative metabolite shift can be diminished by eating healthily and being physically active,” said study investigator Eija K. Laakkonen, PhD, associate professor of Gerontology and Public Health of the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, 

. “In particular, women should pay attention to the quality of fat in their diet and getting sufficient exercise to maintain cardiorespiratory fitness. HRT is an option that women should discuss with healthcare providers at this point in their lives.”

With previous data establishing the menopausal transition as a period often associated with a negative change in cardiometabolic health biomarkers, Laakonen and a team of colleagues sought to further explore these associations beyond clinical biomarkers using metabolomics to assess the effect of the menopausal transition on circulation metabolite. Using data from the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) prospective cohort study, investigators obtained data related to a cohort of 234 Finnish women followed through the menopause transition who kept a menstrual diary during follow-up and underwent laboratory assessments of FSH levels every 3 or 6 months until early postmenopause. After the application of further inclusion criteria, which included not reaching menopause, unknown menopause status, and inconsistent HRT use, a total of 218 participants were identified for inclusion in metabolomics analyses. Of these 218 women, 35 started HRT during the study.

The mean age of participants at first measurement was 51.7 (SD, 1.9) years and the median follow duration was 14 (IQR, 8-20) months, with an overall range of 4 months to 3.5 years. Of the 35 women who started HRT during the study, 27 received oral therapy and 8 received transdermal HRT.

Investigators included a pair of exploratory analyses in their study. The first metabolomic analysis assessed the direct and indirect associations, measured via body fat percentage change, between the menopausal hormonal shift and metabolite changes in the 183 women experiencing natural menopause using latent change score modeling. The second analysis assessed the association of HRT initiation during follow-up with the metabolite measurements was studied in the entire study cohort using menopausal status and HRT interaction as the exposure.

In adjusted analyses, the concentration of ApoB (0.17 SD [99.5% CI, 0.03 to 0.31), very-low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (0.25 SD [99.5% CI, 0.05 to 0.45]) and particles (0.21 SD [99.5% CI, 0.05–0.36]), LDL-C (0.17 SD [99.5% CI, 0.01 to 0.34]) and particles (0.17 SD [99.5% CI, 0.03 to 0.31]), HDL triglycerides (0.24 SD [99.5% CI, 0.02–0.46]), glycerol (0.32 SD [99.5% CI, 0.07 to 0.58]) and leucine increased (0.25 SD [99.5% CI, 0.02 to 0.49]). Additionally, citrate (−0.36 SD, CI −0.57 to −0.14) and 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations decreased (−0.46 SD, CI −0.75 to −0.17).

Further analysis demonstrated most metabolite changes were associated with the menopausal hormonal shift, which explained 11% and 9% of the LDL-c and particle concentration increase, respectively. Investigators also pointed out menopausal hormone therapy was associated with increased medium-to-large HDL particle count and decreased small-to-medium LDL particle and glycine concentration.

“This study links hormonal changes during menopause to metabolic alterations that promote heart disease. Previous studies did not confirm menopausal status with hormone measurements, meaning that they could not differentiate menopausal effects from aging. Our results should be interpreted with caution, since the links with sex hormones and HRT were found in exploratory analyses and need confirmation,” added Laakkonen.

Menopause modulates the circulating metabolome: evidence from a prospective cohort study

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

This article was initially published by our sister publication Practical Cardiology.

New research from a team of investigators in Europe suggests hormonal changes during menopause could explain up to 10% of the increase in LDL-C associated with the transition to menopause among aging women

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IVIG safe, effective for treating pregnant patients with severe COVID-19

Hormone shift in menopause contributes to cardiovascular risk in aging women