With the Covid-19 pandemic, we've been hearing a lot about new words and new types of medicine, haven't we? Among them, you may have heard the name 'Monoclonal Antibodies'. You may have heard your doctor talk about this, or you may have seen it on the news. So, what exactly is this treatment? What happens with it? Is this a cure for everyone? Let's talk about this simply and clearly.
What are Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)?
Simply put, these are special proteins that are made in a laboratory, that is, in a lab. They are designed to work like the antibodies that our bodies produce naturally.
Imagine, when our body gets sick, for example, when we get a cold, our own body makes little soldiers called 'antibodies' to fight against the virus that caused it. These soldiers go and catch that virus and stop it from spreading further in our body. That's what these Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) do. When they are given to our body from outside, these artificially made antibodies enter our body, find the virus that causes Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2), grab it, and help stop it from damaging our body's cells.
To be precise, this is like a specially trained army brought in from outside to fight the disease.
How does this treatment work inside the body?
To understand this, let's take a small example. Imagine that the Covid-19 virus is a thief trying to enter the houses called cells in our body. This thief has a special key to open the doors of our cells. Scientifically, this key is called 'spike protein' . The virus uses this key to enter our cells and cause the disease.
Now, what this medicine called Monoclonal Antibody does is to attach itself to the thief's (virus's) key (spike protein) and block it so that it doesn't work. It's like sticking chewing gum in a keyhole. Then the virus can't enter our cells. That means, the virus's ability to multiply inside the body, that is, to spread, is reduced. This helps a lot in preventing the disease from becoming serious. Do you understand?
But there is an important thing. The Covid-19 virus is constantly changing its nature. New variants are emerging. This treatment may not be as effective for some new variants. Therefore, the recommendations for these treatments also change from time to time. So if you want to know anything about this, the best and safest thing is to talk to your doctor, not just trust the information on the internet.
Who is this treatment given to?
This is not a treatment for everyone with COVID. It is usually given only to people who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. It is also given within the first few days of symptoms. It is best given before it becomes too severe to require hospitalization.
Let's see what risk groups this treatment is usually recommended for.
| Risk Group | Description |
|---|---|
| Older people | Usually people over 65 years of age. |
| People who are obese | Those with a high body mass index (BMI). |
| People with weak immunity | For example, people undergoing treatment for cancer, those who have had organ transplants, or those with other diseases that reduce immunity. |
| People with other chronic diseases | People with conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, serious heart disease, and chronic lung disease. |
| Pregnant mothers | In some cases, this treatment may also be considered for pregnant mothers. |
The most important thing is that for this treatment to be successful, it must be taken in the early days after the onset of symptoms . So if you have COVID and you fall into this risk group, do not delay and talk to your doctor as soon as possible. He or she will consider your age, health status, and the nature of the disease to determine if this treatment is right for you.
Are there any side effects or risks with this treatment?
Yes. Like any medicine, this treatment can cause some side effects. However, these things don't happen to everyone. The most common ones are:
- Redness, swelling, or pain at the site of the intravenous infusion.
- Fever, feeling cold, body aches.
- Headache, nausea, or vomiting.
- Rarely, serious allergic reactions may occur. These may include difficulty breathing, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and swelling of the face or throat.
For this reason, this treatment is given in a hospital setting. You will be kept under medical supervision for about an hour after the medication is given, and any allergic reactions should be treated promptly.
Remember, your doctor will only decide to give you this treatment if they are certain that the benefits to you outweigh the risks.
Take-Home Message
- Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) are special drugs made in a lab that work like our body's natural antibodies.
- This stops the Covid-19 virus from entering the cells of our body.
- This treatment is only given to people who are at higher risk of developing severe illness if they develop COVID-19 (e.g., the elderly, those with chronic illnesses).
- To get the best results from treatment, it should be taken within the first few days of the onset of symptoms.
- To determine whether this treatment is right for you or someone in your family, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Do not base your decisions solely on information found on the Internet.
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