Promising effects of tocilizumab in COVID-19 : A non-controlled, prospective clinical trial

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from mild symptoms to severe complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this syndrome, inflammatory cytokines are released after activation of the inflammatory cascade, with the predominant role of interleukin (IL)-6. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab, as an IL-6 antagonist, in patients with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection.

METHODS: In this prospective clinical trial, 76 patients with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated for eligibility, and ultimately, 42 patients were included. Tocilizumab was administered at a dose of 400 mg as a single dose via intravenous infusion. Primary outcomes included changes in oxygenation support, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and death. Secondary outcomes included radiological changes in the lungs, IL-6 plasma levels, C-reactive protein levels, and adverse drug reactions. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTS: Of the 42 included patients, 20 (48%) patients presented the severe infection stage and 22 (52%) were in the critical stage. The median age of patients was 56 years, and the median IL-6 level was 28.55 pg/mL. After tocilizumab administration, only 6 patients (14%) required invasive ventilation. Additionally, 35 patients (83.33%) showed clinical improvement. By day 28, a total of 7 patients died (6 patients in the critical stage and 1 patient in the severe stage). Neurological adverse effects were observed in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the current results, tocilizumab may be a promising agent for patients with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection, if promptly initiated during the severe stage.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:88

Enthalten in:

International immunopharmacology - 88(2020) vom: 15. Nov., Seite 106869

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Dastan, Farzaneh [VerfasserIn]
Saffaei, Ali [VerfasserIn]
Haseli, Sara [VerfasserIn]
Marjani, Majid [VerfasserIn]
Moniri, Afshin [VerfasserIn]
Abtahian, Zahra [VerfasserIn]
Abedini, Atefeh [VerfasserIn]
Kiani, Arda [VerfasserIn]
Seifi, Sharareh [VerfasserIn]
Jammati, Hamidreza [VerfasserIn]
Hashemian, Seyed Mohammad Reza [VerfasserIn]
Pourabdollah Toutkaboni, Mihan [VerfasserIn]
Eslaminejad, Alireza [VerfasserIn]
Heshmatnia, Jalal [VerfasserIn]
Sadeghi, Mohsen [VerfasserIn]
Nadji, Seyed Alireza [VerfasserIn]
Dastan, Alireza [VerfasserIn]
Baghaei, Parvaneh [VerfasserIn]
Varahram, Mohammad [VerfasserIn]
Yousefian, Sahar [VerfasserIn]
Salamzadeh, Jamshid [VerfasserIn]
Tabarsi, Payam [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Antiviral Agents
COVID-19
Clinical Trial
Coronavirus
I031V2H011
IL6 protein, human
Interleukin 6
Interleukin-6
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2
Tocilizumab

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 23.11.2020

Date Revised 10.01.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106869

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM314620176