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Massachusetts General Hospital

COVID-19 Treatment Guidance

• This document was developed by members of the ID division at MGH in conjunction with
pharmacy, radiology, and other medicine divisions to provide guidance to frontline
clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19.
• This document covers potential off-label and/or experimental use of medications and
immunosuppression management for transplant patients as well as a suggested laboratory
work up. It does NOT cover recommendations for infection control, PPE, management of
hypoxemia or other complications in patients with COVID-19.
• This is a living document that will be updated in real time as more data emerge.

Table 1: Laboratories for diagnosis, prognosis / risk stratification, and/or safety of agents
Suggested for all hospitalized patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19

Recommended daily labs: Viral serologies:2

• CBC with diff (trend total lymphocyte count) • HBV serologies (sAb, cAb, and sAg)
• Complete metabolic panel1 • HCV antibody, unless positive in past
• CPK (creatine kinase) • HIV 1/2 Ab/Ag
For risk stratification (may be repeated q2-3 If clinically indicated:
days if abnormal or with clinical deterioration):
• Routine blood cultures (2 sets)
• D-dimer • For acute kidney injury (i.e. serum creatinine
• Ferritin / CRP / ESR >0.3 above baseline), send urinalysis and spot
• LDH urine protein:creatinine
• Troponin3 • Procalcitonin
• Baseline ECG4 • IL-6 See below for criteria
Radiology: Following up-to-date infection control
• Portable CXR at admission
guidelines and appropriate PPE:
• High threshold for PA/lateral in ambulatory • SARS-CoV-2 test, if not already performed.5
patients, consider only if low suspicion for • If available, send influenza A/B and RSV test
COVID-19 and result would change
management or affect PUI status.

1
For a primer on liver issues related to COVID19 and treatment, please seek link.
2
Viral serologies assist for interpretation of ALT elevations, present in ~25% of presentations. Lopinavir/ritonavir
should not be used as the sole agent if HIV positive. Active viral hepatitis increases risk of hepatotoxicity due to
lopinavir/ritonavir. Note: follow-up molecular testing for HIV/HBV/HCV may have longer turnaround times than usual
3
Elevated troponin (> 2 times upper limit of normal) without hemodynamic compromise, can repeat troponin in 24
hours; echocardiogram not necessary unless otherwise indicated. Up-trending troponin with hemodynamic compromise
or other concerning cardiovascular symptoms /signs should prompt consideration of obtaining an echocardiogram..
4
If starting QTc prolonging drug, can repeat ECG in 24-48 hours to monitor QTc. If baseline QTc > 500, repeat within
24 hours and consider stopping other QTc prolonging drugs.
5
Approval for SARS-CoV-2 may be obtained through the MGH Biothreats Pager, 26876
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• Non-contrast CT is of limited utility in • If available, send respiratory viral panel on all

definitively diagnosing COVID-19 and should patients (includes human metapneumovirus
only be considered if it is likely to change and parainfluenza 1-3)
management or PUI status • As indicated, routine sputum for bacterial
gram stain and culture, Legionella/Strep
pneumo urinary antigen
Suggested for immunocompromised patients:

If clinically indicated, consider sending Pneumocystis DFA from sputum (no induced sputum given
risk of aerosolization). If unable to send sputum, consider sending serum beta-d-glucan
If clinically indicated, consider sending fungal/AFB sputum cultures

Therapeutically:
§ If flu unknown or positive, start oseltamivir 75 mg BID in all adult patients with normal
renal function (may stop if flu A/B PCR negative and low suspicion)
o Adjust for pediatric patients and those with renal insufficiency
§ Considerations for empiric treatment for bacterial pneumonia:
o Other centers have reportedly not, to date, seen a lot of bacterial superinfection in
COVID-19 patients; we should monitor for this on a case-by-case basis.
Ceftriaxone 1 g [or cefepime if MDRO risk factors]
+
Azithromycin 500 mg x1, then 250 mg daily x 4 days
+
Vancomycin if risk factors for MRSA
o All for 5 days, or longer guided by clinical status and microbiology
o Note that from studies to date, procalcitonin remains low in the first 7-10 days of
infection and can rise later on, even without bacterial superinfection.
§ Inhaled medications should be given by metered dose inhaler rather than nebulization.
Nebulization risks aerosolization of SARS-CoV-2. If nebulized medications given, use
appropriate PPE.

ACE-Inhibitors (ACEi) / Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs):

§ Note there is interest in the potential role of ACE-inhibitors (ACEi) / angiotensin receptor
blockers (ARBs) in the pathophysiology of this disease since the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds
to the ACE2 receptor for cellular entry. There are theories these may either help or worsen
COVID-19 disease.
§ Currently there are no data to support either starting or stopping ACEi/ARBs on any patients
with COVID-19. We do not currently routinely recommend stopping these agents for
patients with COVID-19. However, if acute kidney injury, hypotension or other
contraindication develops, we recommend stopping them at that time. After a person is
recovering from their viral syndrome, their home medications can be restarted, and, if
indicated, new ACEi/ARBs can be started if they have a primary indication such as new
persistently reduced ejection fraction.
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COVID-19 Suggested Management:

There are no proven or approved treatments for COVID-19. The following algorithm provides
guidance based on available information to-date regarding possible and investigational treatments.
Caution is advised as there are either no data or limited data for efficacy for COVID-19. As
appropriate, these recommendations will be updated frequently to include new or emerging data.
For clarifications or approval of certain agents, please consult Infectious Diseases.6

Not recommended
§ Systemic steroids should in general be AVOIDED for these patients given potential
harm. Steroids may be considered if indicated for another reason (e.g. refractory septic
shock, or specific to lung transplant guidelines, as delineated below)
Note: Consider discontinuation of inhaled steroids as they may reduce local immunity
and promote viral replication, unless necessary for acute indications
§ At this time, we do not recommend starting ACEi / ARBs or ribavirin for COVID-19
§ There are reports of NSAID use preceding clinical deterioration in some patients
with severe COVID-19 disease. We recommend frontline providers assess and
document recent NSAID use and avoid prescribing NSAIDs while patients are
admitted
Identify High Risk Patients: High risk features may include:

Table 2: Risk Factors for Severe COVID-19 Disease

Epidemiological – Category 1 Vital Signs – Category 2 Labs – Category 3
Age > 55 Respiratory rate > 24 D-dimer > 1000 ng/mL
breaths/min
Pre-existing pulmonary Heart rate > 125 beats/min CPK > twice upper limit of
disease normal
Chronic kidney disease SpO2 < 90% on ambient air CRP > 100
Diabetes with A1c > 7.6% LDH > 245 U/L
History of hypertension Elevated troponin
History of cardiovascular Admission absolute
disease lymphocyte count < 0.8
Use of biologics Ferritin > 300 ug/L
History of transplant or other
immunosuppression
All patients with HIV
(regardless of CD4 count)
For more information about COVID19 Risk Factors, click here.

6
The infectious disease consult service is actively discussing how to meet the needs of frontline clinicians. More
information to follow.
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Suggested Treatment Algorithm Based on Clinical Severity:

(See figure at end of document for schematic layout of algorithm)

Table 3:

Clinical Situation Recommendation Notes / Considerations

All hospitalized patients Continue statins if already Note cardiovascular
prescribed. If no contraindication, disease is a major risk
and for those who have a factor for COVID-19
guideline indication for a statin, disease severity.
consider starting:
Additionally, statins may
atorvastatin 40 mg daily or help promote antiviral
rosuvastatin 20 mg daily
innate immune response.
When major drug-drug
interactions with atorvastatin or If elevated CPK >/= 500
rosuvastatin are expected, U/L, consider not starting a
pitavastatin 2 mg daily (or statin
pravastatin 80mg daily if Avoid statins if ALT > 3x
pitavastatin not available) should upper limit of normal
be considered 7
For a brief discussion of
Avoid NSAIDs statins and immunity, click
here.
For patients with mild disease Supportive care See Table 2 for list of risk
with SpO2 >90%, no risk factors
factors

For patients with mild disease Supportive care with very close
with SpO2 >90% along with monitoring and consideration of
risk factors for severe disease application for clinical trial of
remdesivir (see below)

For patients with moderate or Obtain remdesivir (RDV) For compassionate use,
severe disease (patients in ICU through a clinical trial8 or through apply through portal here:
or with progressive disease) compassionate use.9 Current https://rdvcu.gilead.com/
dosing of remdesivir is 200 mg IV

7
If already on a statin, no need to change to these agents
8
Currently open trial: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04280705
9
As of 3/15/2019, compassionate use is for hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by PCR and mechanical
ventilation. Exclusions include evidence of multi-organ failure, pressor requirement, ALT>5xULN, CrCl<30/ HD/
CVVH, or use of other investigational agents. Investigational agents do not include off-label approved agents.
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loading dose following by 100 mg

IV daily for up to 10 days.

For patients with moderate or With guidance from Infectious Check ECG prior to
severe disease (patients with at Diseases, can consider adding initiation given risk of QT
least one Category 1 and one hydroxychloroquine (400 mg prolongation. Risk is
Category 2/3 feature on floor BID x2 followed by 400 mg daily increased in patients on
or any patients in ICU or with while hospitalized, up to 5 days). other QT-prolonging
progressive disease) Note chloroquine has activity but agents.
limited supply so
hydroxychloroquine preferred

With guidance from Infectious Assess for drug-drug

Diseases can consider: interactions (including with
lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r or calcineurin inhibitors)
Kaletra) 400/100 mg BID for 10 before starting.
days for certain moderate and
severe presentations For protease inhibitors,
(avoid if candidate for RDV trial) main side effect is
gastrointestinal intolerance.
If LPV/r not available, consider Monitor liver function tests
using darunavir/cobicistat while on therapy.
(DRV/c or Prezcobix) 800/150
mg daily Discontinue these agents
upon discharge regardless
of duration, unless
previously used as
maintenance medications
for another indication.

For certain refractory or With ID approval, interferon Note IFN would need to be
progressive patients (who are beta B1 (Betaseron) can be combined with another
in ICU) considered antiviral (likely LPV/r). It
can be combined with
HCQ

For patients with evidence of With ID approval, tocilizumab Need to send serum IL6
cytokine release syndrome (Actemra) can be considered level prior to giving first
(see staging criteria below in dose of tocilizumab
Table 6)
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Table 4:

Special Populations Recommendation Notes

If IgG <400 Consider IVIG at standard dose of
1 gm/kg daily x 2 doses

Heart/Liver/Kidney Transplant Guided by transplant and

Recipients transplant ID teams – please
call/consult

Consider decreasing Screen for drug-drug

tacrolimus/cyclosporine by 50%, interactions with anti-viral
stop mycophenolate agents, if they are being
(CellCept/Myfortic) and used
Azathioprine in kidney/liver
transplant patients and reduce dose
by 50% in heart transplant patients.
Kidney patients approximate target
tacro level 3-5 ng/ml, cyclosporine
level target 25-50 ng/ml.

In the setting of ground glass

opacities can consider switching
mTor to CNI (tacrolimus) given
possibility of pneumonitis w/
mTor; discuss with heart transplant
before making switch

Critical illness – in liver and

kidney – stop all
immunosuppression except for
prednisone if they are on it at
baseline

For outpatients on belatacept,

consider switching to tacrolimus or
cyclosporine starting 28 days after
last dose, to avoid clinic visit.
Levels will need to be checked and
thus need plan in place to draw
CNI levels without exposing
community.
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For inpatients on belatacept, do not

administer any further belatacept.
28 days after last dose, consider
adding low dose CNI. For CNI
intolerant, consider increasing
daily prednisone dose from 5 mg
to 7.5-10 mg daily.

Continue low dose prednisone (5

mg) in all patients who were on it
before hospitalization.

Request bronchoscopy only if

significant decompensation, versus
lung biopsy as may be lower risk
for aerosolization and exposure to
staff

Lung transplant recipients Guided by transplant and

transplant ID teams -please
call/consult. These are guidelines
only, immunosuppression requires
case-by-case approach.

No change to usual
immunosuppression (avoid high
levels, tailor to patient)

For all those in ICU or with lower

respiratory tract respiratory disease
(most inpatients): pulse
methylprednisolone 125mg IV q
12 hours

Outpatient management:
prednisone taper 60mg x 4 days --
40mg x 4 days – 20mg x 4 days
then back to baseline
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Table 5: Brief Overview of Agents

Agent Classification Target / Dosing Key

Mechanism toxicities
atorvastatin Off-label Cardioprotection; 40-80 mg
(Lipitor) immunomodulatory PO daily
pravastatin Off-label Cardioprotection; 80 mg PO
(Pravachol) immunomodulatory daily
remdesivir Investigational RNA dependent 200 mg IV Nausea,
RNA polymerase x1, then 100 vomiting,
inhibitor mg IV daily, ALT
up to 10 elevations
days
hydroxychloroquine Off-label Multiple actions; 400 mg BID QT
(Plaquenil) prevents binding to x 2 doses, prolongation
ACE2, presents then 200 mg
transport in BID for 5
endosome, and days
possibly others
lopinavir/ritonavir Off-label 3CLpro (viral 400/100 mgQT
(LPV/r or Kaletra) protease) inhibitor BID for upprolongation,
to 10 daysALT
elevations
interferon beta-B1 Off-label Immunomodulatory; Dosing for Depression,
(Betaseron) enhancement of progressive injection site
innate and adaptive COVID to reaction, flu
viral immunity be like
determined syndrome
tocilizumab Off-label Monoclonal Dosing for ALT
(Actemra) antibody to IL6 COVID/CRS elevations
receptor / treats to be
cytokine release determined
syndrome

Liverpool COVID-19 Drug Interactions: http://www.covid19-druginteractions.org/

Postexposure Prophylaxis for Healthcare Workers:

§ There is currently no role for post exposure prophylaxis for people with a known COVID-19
exposure. They should follow self-quarantine for 14-days and monitor for symptoms.
Healthcare workers should follow instructions from Occupational Health.
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Table 6: Augmenting Host Immunity (tocilizumab, steroids)

Background: Studies indicate advanced stage disease responses to beta-coronaviruses including COVID-19
have a high IL-6 cytokine signature. This response is similar to CAR-T cell based immune side effects where
anti-IL-6 interventions have been of benefit.

Step 1. Establish clinical status to COVID-19 (adopted and based on the Penn CRS criteria)

Grade 1 – mild reaction

Grade 2 – moderate reaction, fever, need for IVF (not hypotension), mild oxygen requirement
Grade 3 – severe, liver test dysfunction, kidney injury, IVF for resuscitation, low dose vasopressor,
supplemental oxygen (high flow, BiPAP, CPAP)
Grade 4 – life threatening, mechanical ventilation, high dose vasopressors

Step 2. Determine treatment intervention

Grade 1 – no treatment
Grade 2 – send for serum IL-6
Grade 3 – send for serum IL-6; consider tocilizumab, if no effect can repeat x 2 more doses Q8H apart; if
no response, consider low dose corticosteroids
Grade 4 – send for serum IL-6; consider tocilizumab as Grade 3; consider corticosteroids
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Confirmed Positive
COVID-19

Admitted to Admitted to ICU

Outpatients
Medicine Floor (consider statin + start HCQ
on all ICU patients if no
contraindication)

• Supportive care • Apply for RDV:

• Close monitoring • Age < 55 or age > 55 compassionate use if
with no other risk ventilated or through
factors a • Age < 55 or age > 55 trial
• Age < 55 or age > 55 with at least one
with additional Category 2/3 risk
Category 1 but no factor
Category 2/3 features
• If progression or not • If concern for CRS c,
candidate for RDV, consider tocilizumab as
contact ID for below after sending
consideration of IFN b serum IL6

a: See risk factors table (Table 2) in this document

• Consider statin b: Interferon should be added in the presence of
• Supportive care
• Start hydroxychloroquine another antiviral (HCQ, LPV/r, RDV – if allowed).
• Close monitoring c: See staging criteria related to cytokine release
• Consider adding LPV/rd if
• Repeat labs at regular not candidate for clinical syndrome and how to use tocilizumab in this setting
intervals trial d: LPV/r has risk of hepatotoxicity. For HIV+
patients, do not start without other antiretrovirals