Tocilizumab as a Therapeutic Agent for Critically Ill Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2
AbstractBackgroundTocilizumab is an IL-6 receptor antagonist with the ability to suppress the cytokine storm in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.MethodsWe evaluated patients treated with tocilizumab for a SARS-CoV-2 infection who were admitted between 3/13/20 and 4/16/20. This was a multi-center study with data collected by chart review both retrospectively and concurrently. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, race, use of mechanical ventilation (MV), usage of steroids and vasopressors, inflammatory markers, and comorbidities. Early dosing was defined as a tocilizumab dose administered prior to or within one (1) day of intubation. Late dosing was defined as a dose administered greater than one (1) day after intubation. In the absence of mechanical ventilation, the timing of the dose was related to the patient’s date of admission only.ResultsWe evaluated 145 patients. The average age was 58.1 years, 64% were male, 68.3% had comorbidities, and 60% received steroid therapy. Disposition of patients was 48.3% discharged and 29.3% expired, of which 43.9% were African American. Mechanical ventilation was required in 55.9%, of which 34.5% expired. Avoidance of MV (p value = 0.002) and increased survival (p value < 0.001) was statistically associated with early dosing.ConclusionsTocilizumab therapy was effective at decreasing mortality and should be instituted early in the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients.SummaryUtilizing tocilizumab early in the treatment course of critically ill patients with COVID-19 resulted in significant decreases in mortality and the avoidance of mechanical ventilation.