485. Improved Outcome of COVID-19 in CAR T Cell Treated Patients; results of a multicenter study on behalf of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Infectious Diseases Working Party and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Lymphoma Group
Authors: Ljungman Per , Spanjaart Anne M , Tridello Gloria , Knelange Nina , de la Camara Rafael , Kersten Marie Jose , Mielke Stephan 
Published: November 2023

Background

COVID-19 has been associated with a very high mortality in patients having received CAR T cell treatment for hematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the outcome has improved over time.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of prospective data collected into the EBMT registry regarding risk factors, clinical features, and outcome of patients having received CAR T cell therapy for hematological malignances diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and December 2022. SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed by PCR and from January 2021 also antigen tests were accepted. All patients gave informed consent to data collection. The study was approved by the Swedish National Ethical Review Board and by local IRBs as required.

Results

182 patients were included in the analysis; 39 diagnosed in 2020, 35 in 2021, and 108 were diagnosed in 2022. 152 patients were treated for B-cell lymphoma, 19 for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 11 for plasma-cell disorders. The median age at COVID-19 diagnosis was 58.7 ys (7.2 - 78.4). The median time from CAR T cell infusion to COVID-19 diagnosis was 7.0 months (1.0 - 42.5). 28% of the patients had lower respiratory tract disease at diagnosis. 27 (25.8%) of patients had received three or more vaccine doses and only 2.2% had received pre-exposure tix/cil. 45.1% required hospitalization, 33.4% required oxygen, and 17% was admitted to ICU. COVID-19 attributable mortality over the entire period was 18.1% with significant improvement over time (43.6% in 2020, 22.9% in 2021%, and 7.4% in 2022).

Survival after COVID-19 diagnosis

Conclusion

Although the COVID-19 attributable mortality has decreased over time, it remains several times higher than what can be expected in an healthy population of comparable age. Therefore, preventive measures need to be maintained for this vulnerable patient group..

Disclosures

Per Ljungman, MD; PhD, AlloVir: Grant/Research Support|Gilead: Honoraria|Moderna: Honoraria|MSD: Honoraria|Takeda: Honoraria Rafael de la Camara, MD, AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|Moderna: Advisor/Consultant|MSD: Advisor/Consultant Marie Jose Kersten, MD, PhD, BMS: Advisor/Consultant|BMS: Honoraria|Celgene: Advisor/Consultant|Celgene: Grant/Research Support|Celgene: Honoraria|Kite/Gilead: Advisor/Consultant|Kite/Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Kite/Gilead: Honoraria|Kite/Gilead: Travel|Miltenyi Biotech: Advisor/Consultant|Miltenyi Biotech: Honoraria|Miltenyi Biotech: Travel|Novartis: Advisor/Consultant|Novartis: Honoraria|Novartis: Travel|Roche: Advisor/Consultant|Roche: Grant/Research Support|Roche: Honoraria|Takeda: Grant/Research Support Stephan Mielke, MD, PhD, BMS: Honoraria|Celgene: Honoraria|Janssen: Honoraria|Kite/Gilead: Honoraria|Mendes: Honoraria|Miltenyi: Honoraria|Pfizer: Honoraria