Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Andvik, Vicki

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Monoclonal Antibodies, Length of Admission, Inflammatory Markers

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, or COVID-19, was the virus responsible for the worldwide pandemic declared in March, 2020. Individuals can experience a wide variety of symptoms ranging from fever, fatigue, cough, and, in more severe cases, hypoxia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Until recently, symptomatic care was the protocol for patients infected with COVID-19. The use of oxygen for mild hypoxia and antipyretics for fevers was considered the standard of care (SOC). The use of antiviral medications, such as monoclonal antibodies, has been proposed in the treatment of acute COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this literature review is to determine if monoclonal antibodies could be considered as treatment options for high risk patients hospitalized with COVID-19. A literature review was performed on PubMed using the following MESH terms: COVID-19, monoclonal antibodies, and hospitalization. Articles from 2020 to the present were included in the search. Studies were limited to randomized control trials and clinical trials. Out of 97 total search results, 20 articles were relevant to the search. 10 articles were removed due to the studies being performed as outpatient procedures. Two studies were removed as they were reviews. There are three common goals throughout the studies analyzed in this literature review regarding the use of monoclonal antibodies in patients with COVID-19. The first goal is to decrease the length of hospital admission, the second is to decrease the severity of symptoms, shown by a decrease in inflammatory markers, that may be lethal to more fragile patients, and the third is to reduce the overall mortality of COVID-19. The literature review showed monoclonal antibodies are beneficial when their mechanism of action causes direct inhibition of the inflammatory pathway.

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