The Impact on COVID-19 by Intravenous Bevacizumab Used for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Case Report

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues as an infectious pandemic. With emphasis on mitigating its impact globally, strategies have been emphasized on prevention to treatment in severe cases. As for pharmacotherapies, many have been researched, with a few being recommended for patients with COVID-19 depending upon their severity. Bevacizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody often used for oncological disease and rare genetic disorders, has gained attention in combatting COVID-19 due to the pharmacotherapys ability to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). VEGF has been identified as significantly upregulated in the lungs of persons who have died of COVID-19, raising interest for VEGF to be a potential target for patients with COVID-19. We present a case of a patient who was admitted due to complications of a rare genetic disorder, called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), warranting intravenous bevacizumab, who subsequently was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. We discuss the patients outcome and contribute to the growing potential of bevacizumab in the treatment of COVID-19.

J Med Cases. 2022;13(6):307-311
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3948