A Valid Warning or Clinical Lore: an Evaluation of Safety Outcomes of Remdesivir in Patients with Impaired Renal Function from a Multicenter Matched Cohort

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Jan 20;65(2):e02290-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02290-20. Print 2021 Jan 20.

Abstract

Per prescribing guidance, remdesivir is not recommended for SARS-CoV-2 in patients with renal disease given the absence of safety data in this patient population. This study was a multicenter, retrospective chart review of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 who received remdesivir. Safety outcomes were compared between patients with an estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) of <30 ml/min and an eCrCl of ≥30 ml/min. The primary endpoint was acute kidney injury (AKI) at the end of treatment (EOT). Of 359 patients who received remdesivir, 347 met inclusion criteria. Patients with an eCrCl of <30 ml/min were older {median, 80 years (interquartile range [IQR], 63.8 to 89) versus 62 (IQR, 54 to 74); P < 0.001}, were more likely to be on vasopressors on the day of remdesivir administration (30% versus 12.7%; P = 0.003), and were more likely to be mechanically ventilated during remdesivir therapy (27.5% versus 12.4%; P = 0.01) than those with an eCrCl of ≥30 ml/min. Despite these confounders, there was no significant difference in the frequency of EOT AKI (5% versus 2.3%; P = 0.283) or early discontinuation due to abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) (0% versus 3.9%; P = 0.374). Of the 5% of patients who developed EOT AKI on remdesivir with an eCrCl <30 ml/min, no cases were attributable to remdesivir administration per the treating physician. Comparable safety outcomes were observed when 1:1 nearest neighbor matching was applied to account for baseline confounders. In conclusion, remdesivir administration was not significantly associated with increased EOT AKI in patients with an eCrCl of <30 ml/min compared to patients with an eCrCl of ≥30 ml/min.

Keywords: COVID; SARS-CoV-2; SBECD; chronic kidney disease; remdesivir; renal failure.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / administration & dosage
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alanine / administration & dosage
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Creatinine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Insufficiency / drug therapy*
  • Renal Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Renal Insufficiency / virology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • remdesivir
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Creatinine
  • Alanine