Lack of tocilizumab effect on mortality in COVID19 patients
Gregory E. Holt, Mayank Batra, Mukunthan Murthi, Shweta Kambali, Kayo Santos, Maria Virginia Perez Bastidas, Huda Asif, Sara Haddadi, Sixto Arias, Mehdi Mirsaeidi
Abstract
Off-label tocilizumab use in COVID-19 patients reflects concern for cytokine release syndrome. Comparison of matched COVID-19 pneumonia patients found elevated IL-6 levels correlated with mortality that did not change with tocilizumab administration. Correlating mortality with increased IL-6 doesn't imply causality however lack of improvement by tocilizumab requires further clinical trial alterations.
Topics & Concepts
TocilizumabMedicineCytokine release syndromeCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PneumoniaInterleukin 6CytokineSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakInternal medicineOutbreakVirologyRheumatoid arthritisDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)COVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesLong-Term Effects of COVID-19SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research