January 8, 2021

Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonists in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): treatment

[pre-print; not peer-reviewed] A randomized trial of the IL-6 receptor antagonists tocilizumab and sarilumab showed better patient outcomes, including 90-day survival and time to discharge, in critically ill adult COVID-19 patients who were receiving respiratory or cardiovascular organ support in intensive care units. According to this preliminary report from the randomized trial, in-hospital mortality was 28% (98/350) for tocilizumab, 22% (10/45) for sarilumab, and 36% (142/397) among controls. The authors also found greater treatment effects for patients treated with either IL-6 receptor antagonist in combination with corticosteroids.

Gordon et al. (Jan 7, 2021). Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonists in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19. Pre-print downloaded Jan 8 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.07.21249390