[BostonCard]

The doubts about the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies leaves me all the more perplexed by the clinical course of Donald Trump's infection.  As best as I know/remember, he reportedly deteriorated rapidly a Friday morning.  Given his risk factors -- age, sex, weight, terrible diet -- I expected he would have a rather tough time.  Yet he very quickly improved and was discharged Monday.  That evening, he looked out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs, but soon thereafter he looked back to baseline.

I was ready to give the credit to his recovery to the prompt treatment with the monoclonal antibodies that he received, given that Remdesivir's impact has generally not been dramatic, and given that it seemed too early for dexamethasone to have a large effect.  So now I'm left wondering how best to account for his outcome.     I guess any of the three interventions could be game changers for any particular individual.  Perhaps the combination is synergistic.  Perhaps he would have had the same clinical course without treatment.  Such a crapshoot.

A three night hospitalization is well within what might be expected for a patient with COVID-19 (even one with multiple risk factors) who doesn't require ICU care or mechanical ventilation.

BC

[BostonCard]

The doubts about the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies leaves me all the more perplexed by the clinical course of Donald Trump's infection.  As best as I know/remember, he reportedly deteriorated rapidly a Friday morning.  Given his risk factors -- age, sex, weight, terrible diet -- I expected he would have a rather tough time.  Yet he very quickly improved and was discharged Monday.  That evening, he looked out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs, but soon thereafter he looked back to baseline.

I was ready to give the credit to his recovery to the prompt treatment with the monoclonal antibodies that he received, given that Remdesivir's impact has generally not been dramatic, and given that it seemed too early for dexamethasone to have a large effect.  So now I'm left wondering how best to account for his outcome.     I guess any of the three interventions could be game changers for any particular individual.  Perhaps the combination is synergistic.  Perhaps he would have had the same clinical course without treatment.  Such a crapshoot.

A three night hospitalization is well within what might be expected for a patient with COVID-19 (even one with multiple risk factors) who doesn't require ICU care or mechanical ventilation.

BC