When Luis Estrada, 78-year-old Elizabeth resident began presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 in early December, Dr. John D’Angelo, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas, spoke to Estrada’s daughter, Barbara Estrada Garces also of Elizabeth, about an experimental treatment known as monoclonal antibodies.
“My father was really bad and his oxygen level was really low,” says Graces (pictured above right). “He was losing his memory and doesn’t even remember what happened that day. So, I said yes to the drug because I was desperate.”
Estrada was a good candidate for the novel therapy because of his advanced age. “Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory cloned proteins derived from patients who have convalesced from COVID,” explains Dr. D’Angelo. “We take the best antibodies, those most specific for the ‘spike protein’ of the virus and clone them. The infusion is given to a patient via an intravenous infusion, similar to what would look like a small bag of fluids. As the drug is infused over a course of one hour, the monoclonal antibodies recognize the COVID virus as foreign and begin to attack it. The patient stays in the emergency department for about an hour after the therapy is complete to monitor for any potential adverse reactions.”
Later that afternoon, Graces was surprised to receive the call to pick her father up from the hospital. “When I got there, his persistent cough had already stopped,” she says. “After two days, he regained his memory and his strength. And now, he is doing great and says he feels like a rock.”
Joseph Burns, an 88-year-old Madison resident, had a similar experience under Dr. D’Angelo’s care. “I contracted COVID-19 through a session with my physical therapist on December 1,” says Burns.
On Saturday Dec. 5th, he says, “I began to really feel ill was tested on Monday, Dec. 7 and found out I had tested positive on Dec. 9.”
As a long-time friend of Trinitas, Burns made the trip to the Emergency Department at Trinitas after speaking with Dr. D’Angelo about monoclonal antibodies. When he arrived, he was in poor condition--unable to sleep, no appetite, perpetually nauseous, weak and tired.
“At times,” he says, “I could hardly move.”
After being treated with monoclonal antibodies, Burns says, “It was truly the difference-maker. I’m so grateful to the entire staff. They were terrific. Trinitas is responsible for my recovery. The dedication and commitment to patients like me is so important.”
Burns, who is among many patients who have received the treatment, has made a complete recovery.
“Trinitas rivals other larger, resource rich institutions by offering the community we serve the most advanced COVID-19 therapeutics available,” says Dr. D’Angelo. “The largest benefits are seen in patients who are obese and over the age of 65.”
He adds, “Patients who do not meet hospital admission criteria, namely patients who do not require supplemental oxygen to keep their oxygen at a safe level, may be offered two different types of monoclonal antibodies. But the key is early evaluation and medical attention, as opposed to sticking it out at home, especially for those patients with other medical conditions.”
The results have been astounding, he says. “To date, we have an 87.5% success rate of keeping our patients out of the hospital. 12.5% have returned to then be discharged a few days later. We have had zero deaths after this drug has been administered.”
About Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Trinitas Regional Medical Center was established in 2000 following the consolidation of Elizabeth General Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital. Trinitas, a major center for comprehensive health services for those who live and work in Central New Jersey, is a Catholic teaching medical center sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in partnership with Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation. With 12 Centers of Excellence across the continuum of care, Trinitas has distinguished itself in cardiology, cancer care, behavioral health, renal care, nursing education, diabetes management, wound healing, breast health, seniors healthcare, women's healthcare and sleep medicine.
Contact Information
Doug Harris
908-994-5138
dharris@trinitas.org
Yolanda Fleming
908-994-5139
Yfleming@trinitas.org