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Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients

Kai-Lian Zheng1,2, Ying Xu3, Yu-Feng Guo2,4

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.

Aging
|October 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Tocilizumab effectively treated critical or severe COVID-19 by reducing C-reactive protein and cytokine storm. This treatment relieved symptoms like fever and cough with no adverse drug reactions observed.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to critical or severe illness.
  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a significant role in the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19.
  • Tocilizumab is an IL-6 receptor inhibitor with potential therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with critical or severe COVID-19.
  • To assess the impact of tocilizumab on clinical manifestations, imaging, and laboratory markers in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 181 patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Huoshenshan Hospital.
  • Comparison between 92 patients treated with tocilizumab and 89 patients receiving conventional treatment.
  • Analysis of clinical symptoms, CT scan changes, and laboratory tests before and after treatment.

Main Results:

  • Tocilizumab significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels within one week.
  • Treatment led to the resolution of IL-6-related cytokine storms in some patients.
  • Observed improvements in fever, cough, and shortness of breath with no reported adverse drug reactions.

Conclusions:

  • Tocilizumab demonstrates efficacy in improving clinical outcomes for critical or severe COVID-19.
  • The drug appears safe and effective in managing key inflammatory markers and symptoms.
  • Further clinical trials are recommended to optimize tocilizumab's therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.

Keywords:
C-reactive proteinCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2interleukin-6tocilizumab

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