Long-term Sequelae in Ebola Virus Disease Survivors Receiving Anti-Ebola Virus Therapies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort Study - Scorecard - MDSpire

Long-term Sequelae in Ebola Virus Disease Survivors Receiving Anti-Ebola Virus Therapies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort Study

  • By

  • Angèle Dilu-Keti

  • Tamara Tovar-Sanchez

  • Benjamin Cuer

  • Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye

  • Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka

  • Eric Panzi-Kalunda

  • Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu

  • Junior Bulabula-Penge

  • Fabrice Mambu-Mbika

  • Placide Mbala-Kingebeni

  • Ahidjo Ayouba

  • Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum

  • Jean-François Etard

  • Faustin Chenge

  • Eric Delaporte

  • Steve Ahuka-Mundeke

  • for the ‘Les Vainqueurs d’Ebola’ study group

  • Steve Ahuka-Mundeke

  • Ahidjo Ayouba

  • Nella Bisento-Ngafa

  • Julie Boullin

  • Junior Bulabula-Penge

  • Bernice Danga-Yema

  • Eric Delaporte

  • Angèle Dilu Keti

  • François Edidi-Atani

  • Grâce Ekoko

  • Benjamin Hamzé

  • Grâce Hangi

  • Gabriel Kambaba Lungeni

  • Neema Kahindo Barumawaki

  • Fey Kahonga

  • John Kakule Muzombo

  • Callixte Kakule-Sadiki

  • Guillaume Kambale-Kasyamboko

  • Vianey Kambale Kombi

  • Nelson Kambale-Sivihwa

  • Philemon Kambale Tsongo

  • Sahani Kanyere Lwanzo

  • Victoire Katembo Thasi

  • Suzanne Kavira Muhasa

  • Sheila Kavira-Muhesi

  • Eli Kavoyo-Mbayayi

  • Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki

  • Richard Kitenge Omasumbu

  • Divine Kitsa-Mutsumbirwa

  • Rebecca Kyakimwa Vahaviraki

  • Audrey Lacroix

  • Achilla Luwawu Sadila

  • Robert Makasi Menge

  • Fabrice Mambu-Mbika

  • Rachel Masika Kihigo

  • Immaculée Matimbiya Vihanba

  • Meris Matondo-Kuamfumu

  • Placide Mbala Kingebeni

  • Fyfy Mbelu Matulu

  • Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka

  • Noella Mulopo-Mukanya

  • Elia Mumbere-Kalemekwa

  • Serge Mumbere Kavalami

  • Jacques Mumbere Mutegana

  • Skoda Mumbere Muyisa

  • Fiz Mussa Bahizi

  • Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum

  • Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye

  • César Omeonga Kelenda

  • Jeannot Paluku Nzira

  • Defao Paluku-Salambongo

  • Eric Panzi-Kalunda

  • Martine Peeters

  • Raphaël Pelloquin

  • Guillaume Thaurignac

  • Tamara Tovar-Sanchez

  • July 31, 2025

  • 0 min

Share

Clinical Scorecard: Long-Term Outcomes in Survivors of Ebola Virus Disease Treated with Anti-Ebola Therapies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort Analysis

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionEbola Virus Disease (EVD) and its long-term sequelae
Key MechanismsPost-Ebola sequelae including neurologic, musculoskeletal, and ocular complications following treatment with monoclonal antibodies (REGN-EB3, ansuvimab, ZMapp) and remdesivir
Target PopulationSurvivors of the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Care SettingEbola treatment centers and survivor follow-up programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Key Highlights

  • Among 750 survivors, 86.7% experienced post-Ebola sequelae persisting up to at least 38 months postdischarge.
  • Neurologic sequelae were more frequent in survivors treated with REGN-EB3 compared to remdesivir.
  • Musculoskeletal sequelae were associated with ZMapp treatment, older age, and acute-phase hemorrhagic symptoms.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Confirm EVD survival with two consecutive negative RT-PCR blood tests.
  • Assess for neurologic, musculoskeletal, and ocular sequelae during follow-up visits.

Management

  • Provide targeted long-term care for post-Ebola sequelae, especially neurologic and musculoskeletal complications.
  • Consider patient age, sex, metabolic comorbidities, and type of anti-Ebola therapy when planning management.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Follow survivors prospectively for at least 12 months postdischarge to monitor persistence and recurrence of sequelae.
  • Monitor ocular health due to risk of late-onset complications such as uveitis.

Risks

  • Higher risk of recurrent neurologic and musculoskeletal sequelae in females, older adults, and those with metabolic comorbidities.
  • Increased neurologic sequelae risk with REGN-EB3 therapy and musculoskeletal sequelae with ZMapp therapy.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Ebola survivors treated during the 2018–2020 DRC outbreak with monoclonal antibodies or remdesivir

Monoclonal antibody therapies (REGN-EB3, ansuvimab, ZMapp) improved survival but are associated with differing long-term sequelae profiles; remdesivir showed comparatively lower neurologic sequelae incidence.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Implement coordinated survivor follow-up programs to identify and manage long-term sequelae.
  • Tailor post-Ebola care based on individual risk factors including age, sex, comorbidities, and specific anti-Ebola therapy received.
  • Educate survivors on potential late-onset complications and encourage regular clinical assessments.

References

Original Source(s)

Long-term Sequelae in Ebola Virus Disease Survivors Receiving Anti-Ebola Virus Therapies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort Study

  • by Angèle Dilu-Keti, Tamara Tovar-Sanchez, Benjamin Cuer, Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Eric Panzi-Kalunda, Richard Kitenge-Omasumbu, Junior Bulabula-Penge, Fabrice Mambu-Mbika, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Ahidjo Ayouba, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Jean-François Etard, Faustin Chenge, Eric Delaporte, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, for the ‘Les Vainqueurs d’Ebola’ study group, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Ahidjo Ayouba, Nella Bisento-Ngafa, Julie Boullin, Junior Bulabula-Penge, Bernice Danga-Yema, Eric Delaporte, Angèle Dilu Keti, François Edidi-Atani, Grâce Ekoko, Benjamin Hamzé, Grâce Hangi, Gabriel Kambaba Lungeni, Neema Kahindo Barumawaki, Fey Kahonga, John Kakule Muzombo, Callixte Kakule-Sadiki, Guillaume Kambale-Kasyamboko, Vianey Kambale Kombi, Nelson Kambale-Sivihwa, Philemon Kambale Tsongo, Sahani Kanyere Lwanzo, Victoire Katembo Thasi, Suzanne Kavira Muhasa, Sheila Kavira-Muhesi, Eli Kavoyo-Mbayayi, Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki, Richard Kitenge Omasumbu, Divine Kitsa-Mutsumbirwa, Rebecca Kyakimwa Vahaviraki, Audrey Lacroix, Achilla Luwawu Sadila, Robert Makasi Menge, Fabrice Mambu-Mbika, Rachel Masika Kihigo, Immaculée Matimbiya Vihanba, Meris Matondo-Kuamfumu, Placide Mbala Kingebeni, Fyfy Mbelu Matulu, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Noella Mulopo-Mukanya, Elia Mumbere-Kalemekwa, Serge Mumbere Kavalami, Jacques Mumbere Mutegana, Skoda Mumbere Muyisa, Fiz Mussa Bahizi, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye, César Omeonga Kelenda, Jeannot Paluku Nzira, Defao Paluku-Salambongo, Eric Panzi-Kalunda, Martine Peeters, Raphaël Pelloquin, Guillaume Thaurignac, Tamara Tovar-Sanchez

  • July 31, 2025

Related Content

Ebola outbreak continues to worsen, with new collateral risks for girls and women

The Loan Cap That Could Shrink the Doctor Pipeline

New federal limits on medical school borrowing may quietly reshape who becomes a physician—and where they practice.

Is The U.S. Stepping Up In The Fight Against Ebola?