Tocilizumab treatment and outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients: Retrospective study from a tertiary care institute in western India

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by a novel beta coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The symptoms range from mild to severe in nature. The severity of respiratory symptoms is due to the cytokine storm. The tocilizumab, interleukin-6 inhibitor, can prevent the cytokine release and decrease the mortality. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective observational study of 20 COVID-19 positive cases who received tocilizumab. Results and conclusion: There were 75% males with a mean age of 47.20±9.68 years in our study. 50% had diabetes mellitus, 35% had hypertension, 5% had Chronic kidney disease, 5% had obesity and 5% had hypothyroidism. Mortality was reduced to 65% with tocilizumab administration. There was statistically significant reduction of C- reactive protein (p<0.00052) and IL-6 (interleukin) (p<0.023) after administration of tocilizumab.

Keywords

• tocilizumab
• interleukin-6
• covid-19
• c-reactive protein