Tocilizumab reduces the risk of ICU admission and mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

• Published in: Revista española de quimioterapia
• Main Authors: Meira, F, Albiach, L, Carbonell, C, Martín-Oterino, J A, Martín-Ordiales, M, Linares, L, Macaya, I, Agüero, D, Ambrosioni, J, Bodro, M, Cardozo, C, Chumbita, M, De la Mora, M, García-Pouton, N, Garcia-Vidal, C, González-Cordón, A, Hernández-Meneses, M, Inciarte, A, Laguno, M, Leal, L, Morata, L, Puerta-Alcalde, P, Rico, V, Letona, L, Cózar-Llistó, A, Dueñas, G, Solá, M, Torres, B, Rojas, J, Moreno, A, Moreno-García, E, Torres, M, Martínez, J A, Soriano, A, García, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 13.05.2021
• Subjects: COVID-19; siltuximab; mortality; IL-6
• ISSN: 1988-9518

The study aims to describe characteristics and clinical outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection that received siltuximab according to a protocol that aimed to early block the activity of IL-6 to avoid the progression of the inflammatory flare. Retrospective review of the first 31 patients with SARS-CoV-2 treated with siltuximab, in Hospital Clinic of Barcelona or Hospital Universitario Salamanca, from March to April 2020 with positive polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab. The cohort included 31 cases that received siltuximab with a median (IQR) age of 62 (56-71) and 71% were males. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (48%). The median dose of siltuximab was 800 mg ranging between 785 and 900 mg. 7 patients received siltuximab as a salvage therapy after one dose of tocilizumab. At the end of the study, a total of 26 (83.9) patients had been discharged alive and the mortality rate was 16.1% but only 1 out of 24 that received siltuximab as a first line option (4%). Siltuximab is a well-tolerated alternative to tocilizumab when administered as a first line option in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia within the first 10 days from symptoms onset and high C-reactive protein.