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The clinical efficacy of biological immunomodulators in SARS-CoV-2- associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: A systematic review
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  • Jong Gyun Ahn,
  • Ji Young Lee,
  • Jimin Kim,
  • Soo-Han Choi,
  • Dong Hyun Kim,
  • Ki Wook Yun,
  • Yae Jean Kim,
  • Miyoung Choi
Jong Gyun Ahn
Seoul National University College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ji Young Lee
Seoul National University College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
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Jimin Kim
National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency
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Soo-Han Choi
Pusan National University School of Medicine
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Dong Hyun Kim
Inha University School of Medicine
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Ki Wook Yun
Seoul National University College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
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Yae Jean Kim
Sungkyunkwan University
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Miyoung Choi
National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency
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Abstract

The clinical efficacy of biological immunomodulators in patients refractory to standard therapy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and glucocorticoids remains unclear. This review aimed to outline real-world data on the clinical outcomes of biological immunomodulators using Ovid-Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CDSR, and the Korean database, KMBASE from September 2021 to August 2022. Among 251 studies , 10 were selected, of which two were observational studies with control groups receiving a standard therapy of IVIg and/or glucocorticoids. In total, 145 patients were treated with biological agents. In the first study with a control group, anakinra-treated group exhibited a lower left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline (54% vs. 60%, P = 0.08). Patients in the infliximab group of second study showed lesser additional treatment requirements (31% vs. 65%, P = 0.01), and lower rate of newly developed left ventricular dysfunction (4% vs. 20%, P = 0.05). The remaining eight single-arm studies did not report the clinical outcomes of each type of biological immunomodulator individually, limiting further interpretation. The findings of this review imply the potential of biological immunomodulators as a feasible therapeutic option for refractory MIS-C.