The Use of TKM-100802 and Convalescent Plasma in 2 Patients With Ebola Virus Disease in the United States

Abstract

Background: The current West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has resulted in multiple individuals being medically evacuated to other countries for clinical management.

Methods: We report two patients who were transported from West Africa to the United States for treatment of EVD. Both patients received aggressive supportive care measures, as well as an investigational therapeutic (TKM-100802) and convalescent plasma.

Results: While one patient experienced critical illness with multi-organ failure requiring mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, both patients recovered without serious long-term sequelae to date.

Conclusions: It is unclear what role the experimental drug and convalescent plasma had in the recovery of these patients. Prospective clinical trials are needed to delineate the role of investigational therapies in the care of patients with EVD.

Keywords: Ebola virus; Ebola virus disease; TKM-Ebola; convalescent plasma; convalescent serum.

Figure 1.

Temperature curve denoting fever (A), hepatic and renal function (B), and Ebola virus RNA level and antibody response (C) for patient 1 (Nebraska Biocontainment Unit). Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; Ct, cycle threshold; EBOV, Ebola virus; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgM, immunoglobulin M; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification testing; ND, not detected; T_max, maximum temperature.

Figure 2.

Temperature curve denoting fever (A), hepatic and renal function (B), and Ebola virus RNA level and antibody response (C) for patient 2 (Emory Serious Communicable Diseases Unit). Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; Ct, cycle threshold; EBOV, Ebola virus; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgM, immunoglobulin M; Mech vent, mechanical ventilation; NAAT, nucleic acid amplification test; ND, not detected; T_max, maximum temperature.