Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID‐19: A single‐center observational analysis

https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26191

This is a retrospective single‐center analysis of the records of patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 who received tocilizumab. Outcomes, including clinical improvement, mortality and changes in oxygen‐support at 24, 48, and 72 hours, and 7, 14, and 28 days post‐tocilizumab, are reported. Sixty‐six patients received tocilizumab at a mean dose of 724 mg (7.4 mg/kg), 3.7 days from admission. Seven days after tocilizumab, ten patients (15.2%) had clinical improvement in their oxygenation status, and there was a 95% decrease in CRP. Within 14 days of treatment, 29% of patients had clinical improvement, 20% had minimal or no improvement, 17% worsened, 27% died, and 7% were transferred to an outside hospital. Ultimately, 42% of all patients that received tocilizumab expired and 49% were discharged. This study found limited clinical improvement in patients that received tocilizumab in the setting of severe COVID‐19. Clinical trials are ongoing to further evaluate tocilizumab’s benefit in this patient population.

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