The absorbing filter Oxiris in severe COVID‐19 patients: A case series

fengmin, Shaohao; Zhang, Hongtao; Zhu, Guizhen; Yan, Lei; Lu, Yang; Fang, Qiying

OBJECTIVE: Hypercytokines cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID‐19 patients, which is the main reason for ICU treatment and the leading cause of death in COVID‐19 patients. Cytokine storm is a critical factor in the development of ARDS. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Oxiris filter in the treatment of COVID‐19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five patients with COVID‐19 who received CRRT in Henan provincial people's hospital between January 23, 2019, and March 28, 2020, were enrolled in this study. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), oxygenation index (PaO(2)/FiO(2)), renal function, C‐reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, procalcitonin (PCT), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ), sequential organ failure score (SOFA) and prognosis were compared after CRRT. RESULTS: Five COVID‐19 patients, 3 males and 2 females, aged (70.2±19.6) years, were enrolled. After treatment, HR (101.4±14.08 vs 83.8±6.22 bpm/min), CRP (183±25.21 vs 93.78±70.81 mg/L), IL‐6 (3234.49 (713.51,16038.36) vs 181.29 (82.24,521.39) pg/ml), IL‐8 (154.86 (63.97,1476.1) vs 67.19 (27.84,85.57) pg/ml), and IL‐10 (17.43 (9.14,41.22) vs 4.97 (2.39, 8.70) pg/ml), APACHE Ⅱ (29±4.92 vs. 18.4±2.07), SOFA (17.2±1.92 vs. 11.2±3.4) significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while MAP (75.8±4.92 vs. 85.8±6.18 mmHg), PaO(2)/FiO(2) (101.2±7.49 vs. 132.6±26.15 mmHg) significantly increased (p < 0.05). Among the 5 patients, negative conversion of nucleic acid test was found in 3 cases, while 2 cases died. No adverse events occurred during the treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study observed a reduced level of overexpressed cytokines, stabilization of hemodynamic status, and staged improvement of organ function during the treatment with Oxiris filter.