(17 July 2020) Tocilizumab- clinical improvement by days 7 and 14 were 44.3% (39/88) and 73.9% (65/88)

Tocilizumab for the treatment of adult patients with severe COVID‐19 pneumonia: a single‐center cohort study

https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26308

88 consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia that received at least one dose of intravenous TCZ  were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical status from day 0 (first TCZ dose) through day 14 was assessed by a six-point ordinal scale. The primary outcome was clinical improvement (hospital discharge and/or a decrease of >/=2 points on the six-point scale) by day 7. Rates of clinical improvement by days 7 and 14 were 44.3% (39/88) and 73.9% (65/88). Previous or concomitant receipt of subcutaneous interferon-beta (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06 – 0.94; P-value = 0.041) and serum lactate dehydrogenase >450 U/L at day 0 (aOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.06 – 0.99; P-value = 0.048) were negatively associated with clinical improvement by day 7. All-cause mortality was 6.8% (6/88). Body temperature and respiratory and cardiac rates significantly decreased by day 1 compared to day 0. Lymphocyte count and pulse oximetry oxygen saturation/FiO2 ratio increased by days 3 and 5, whereas C-reactive protein levels dropped by day 2. There were no TCZ-attributable adverse events.  In this observational single-center study, TCZ appeared to be useful and safe as immunomodulatory therapy for severe COVID-19 pneumonia.