July 21, 2020

Experience with Tocilizumab in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia after 80 Days of Follow-up: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

• Among 236 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia treated with tocilizumab over a median follow-up of 83 days, 55% required ICU admission, 49% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 13% died. The investigators evaluated response to tocilizumab using multiple methods and found that the response defined by stable or decreasing scores on the Lower Brescia COVID Respiratory Severity Scale was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR=0.14, 95% CI 0.03 – 0.74), while response defined by other methods was not associated with mortality.  

Moreno-Pérez et al. (July 16, 2020). Experience with Tocilizumab in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia after 80 Days of Follow-up: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Autoimmunity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102523