Effects of Tocilizumab in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: A Quasi-Experimental Study

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.13.20149328v1

In this study (Clinical trial -RBR-3zdynp), patients with COVID 19 admitted in the ICU who were treated with tocilizumab plus standard care were enrolled and compared to controls. Main outcome: 1) intra-hospital mortality; Secondary Outcomes: 1) the need for renal replacement therapy, 2) use of antibiotics and positive culture, and 3) inflammatory and oxygenation markers. There was no difference in mortality, need for renal replacement therapy, use of antibiotics or positive cultures between the two groups. The use of corticosteroids was more frequent in the treatment group. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and WBC (white blood cells) counts declined significantly faster in the treatment group. Oxygenation markers rose significantly higher in patients in the tocilizumab group as compared to controls. Tocilizumab was associated with rapid improvement in oxygenation and a faster decrease of CRP and WBC counts in patients with COVID-19 and should be evaluated as rescue therapy for patients with progressive disease

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