Int J Intern Emerg Med | Volume 5, Issue 1 | Short Communication | Open Access
Ahad Wani AB, Aamir Shafi* and Yousuf NM
Department of General Medicine, Sher - I - Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, India
*Correspondance to: Amir Shafi
Fulltext PDFAim and Objective: The aim and objective of this study was to determine whether Tocilizumab (IL- 6 Inhibitor) improves the clinical outcome in patients with severe and critical COVID-19 infection. Design: A retrospective observational single centre study in a COVID designated 170 bedded tertiary care hospitals in Srinagar, Kashmir (North India).\ Method: Adults above 18 years of age with confirmed COVID-19 infection (RTPR positive nasopharyngeal swab) who were receiving supplemental oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation having abnormal levels of inflammatory Bio-Markers (CR, LDH, Ferritin and IL-6) were given 8 mg/kg body weight Tocilizumab + standard care. Results: Out of 521 COVID-19 patients admitted 430 were moderate to severe in severity and 91 were critical COVID in severity. Out of 91 only 13 patients received tocilizumab due to off-label use, non availability of drug in pandemic, financial constrictions, contraindication to medicines and non-availability of consent. The mortality in Tocilizumab group was 10/13 (76.92%) while mortality in non Tocilizumab group was 61/78 (78.2%). IL-6 Levels had no correlation with severity and mortality in COVID-19. IL-6 Levels had no correlation with progression and outcome in COVID-19. Role of Tocilizumab in COVID-19 remains controversial. Conclusion: Adding Tocilizumab to the standard care in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients doesn’t change the outcome.
Interleukien; Tocilizumab; COVID-19; Monoclonal antibody
Ahad Wani AB, Shafi A, Yousuf NM. Effect of Tocilizumab on Clinical Outcome in Patients with Severe and Critical COVID-19 Infection in Kashmir Valley (North India): A Retrospective Observational Study. Int J Intern Emerg Med. 2022; 5(1): 1047.