Efficacy of tocilizumab in severe COVID-19: a retrospective study

Authors : Seda ÇOLAK, Emre TEKGÖZ, Muhammet ÇINAR, Gülden YILMAZ, Duygu TECER, Fahrettin BIÇAKÇI, Ferhat CUCE, Gonca FİDAN, Deniz DOĞAN, Ümit SAVAŞÇI, Yakup ARSLAN, Cantürk TAŞÇI, Emel UYAR, Zehra KARACAER, Serkan ŞENKAL, Sedat YILMAZ

Pages : 592-599

Doi:10.32322/jhsm.1064728

View : 17 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2022-03-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(COVID-19); is a pandemic with potential life-threatening outcomes. The current study aims to demonstrate the effect of tocilizumab in COVID-19 related cytokine storm. Material and Method: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the patients who received tocilizumab for COVID-19 related cytokine storm between March and August 2020. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings were recorded. Computerized tomography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CT); scans, which were performed before tocilizumab infusion were scored. The characteristics of the patients who survived versus those who did not survive were assessed. Results: There was a total of 137 patients, 99 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(72.3%); male and 38 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(27.7%); female, with a median age of 62 years. Eighty-six insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(62.7%); patients had severe; 51 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(37.2%); patients had critical disease course. The mortality rate was 24.1%. Higher mortality rates were present among patients older than 65 years, females, and with comorbid diseases insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p=0.02, p=0.031, and p=0.01, respectively);. The non-survived group had higher rates of mechanical ventilation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MV); support insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(85.2%); and admission to the intensive care unit insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(58.8%); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05);. CT scores were higher in patients who did not survive compared with those who survived. Old age, critical disease, MV support, extended lung opacifications were associated with mortality according to multivariate logistic regression analysis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OR CI= 0.781, p=0.029, p=0.002, p=0.018, p=0.047, respectively);. Conclusion: We consider that due to the effect of tosilizumab in inhibiting the early stages of inflammation, it can be effective in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients, especially under 65 years old, not requiring MV, and without extended pulmonary lesions.
Keywords : COVID 19, interleukin 6, tocilizumab, treatment