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letter
. 2022 May 24;135(6):e137–e138. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.02.011

Table.

A Summary of Additional Management Considerations of AL Amyloidosis During COVID-19 Pandemic

Management of AL Amyloidosis During COVID-19
Comment (s) Suggestion (s)
Prevention measures
 Prophylactic drugs3
  • 1.

    Uncertain benefit of HCQ and macrolides

  • 2.

    Cardiac (HCQ and macrolides) and renal (HCQ) toxicity

Avoid using HCQ/macrolide prophylaxis for AL amyloidosis, particularly those with cardiorenal involvement.
 SARS-Cov-2 vaccination3,4 Rituximab causes prolonged B-cell depletion lasting 6-12 months after the last dose Repeat SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at least 6-months after the last Rituximab dose
Booster vaccination (mRNA vaccines) could augment antibody response following the second dose in patients with hematological malignancies4 Consider booster vaccination for patients with AL amyloidosis who have completed the 2-dose schedule.
 Nephrological considerations3 Maintain COVID appropriate behaviour in the dialysis units
  • 1.

    Stagger patients requiring dialysis

  • 2.

    Consider peritoneal dialysis after nephrology consultation

 Diagnostic considerations3 Avoid organ biopsies for the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis Consider biopsy from alternate sites (abdominal fat pad)
Therapeutic measures
 Treatment modifications3 CyBorD
  • 1.

    Reduce dexamethasone dose from 40 mg/week to 20 mg/week

  • 2.

    Use renal-modified dose of cyclophosphamide

DARA-based regimens Consider 90-minute IV infusion following an uneventful first infusion, particularly in countries where SC formulation is not available
HSCT and renal transplant cause prolonged immunosuppression Defer both autologous HSCT and renal transplant for patients with AL amyloidosis, if feasible.
B-NHL associated AL amyloidosis
  • 1.

    Purine analogues cause prolonged lymphodepletion.

  • 2.

    Rituximab can cause prolonged B-cell lymphopenia.

  • 3.

    IV Rituximab infusions needs hospitalisation

  • 1.

    Consider alkylator-based rituximab combinations

  • 2.

    Consider 2-monthly infusions instead of 3-monthly infusions during maintenance. $$$

  • 3.

    Consider SC rituximab

Management of AL amyloidosis in patients infected with COVID-19
 Therapeutic measures3 Chemoimmunotherapy is potentially immunosuppressive
  • 1.

    Withhold the treatment of AL amyloidosis after the detection of COVID-19

  • 2.

    Resume treatment once COVID-19 is cured.

 General measures3 COVID-19 could cause cardiorenal decompensation in AL amyloidosis patients Consider meticulous supportive care
 Response assessment2,3
  • 1.

    COVID-19 infection could cause elevation of free kappa and lambda light chains2

  • 2.

    COVID-19 could cause renal impairment and elevation of cardiac biomarkers

Re-evaluate for hematological and organ response after COVID-19 is cured
Management of COVID-19 in patients with AL amyloidosis
 Anti-COVID medications3,5,6
  • 1.

    Remdesivir - cardiac and renal toxicity

  • 2.

    Baricitinib - renal toxicity5

  • 3.

    Molnupiravir - no cardiorenal toxicities6

  • 4.

    Tocilizumab - may cause cardiac decompensation

  • 1.

    Cautious use in patients with cardiorenal amyloidosis

  • 2.

    Cautious use in patients with renal amyloidosis

  • 3.

    Consider using as per local approvals

  • 4.

    Cautious use in patients with cardiac amyloidosis

 Hemostatic considerations3
  • 1.

    Patients with AL amyloidosis have an inherent bleeding tendency

  • 2.

    Renal excretion of LMWH

  • 3.

    Reduced efficacy of heparin due to low AT

  • 1.

    Judicious use of anti-coagulation

  • 2.

    Anti-Xa-based LMWH dosing

  • 3.

    Consider use of dabigatran or argatroban

AL = light chain; AT = antithrombin III; COVID-19 = Coronavirus disease 2019; CyBorD = cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, dexamethasone; DARA = daratumumab; HCQ = hydroxychloroquine; HSCT = hematopoietic stem cell transplant; IV = intravenous; LMWH = low-molecular-weight heparin; SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SC = subcutaneous.