Open AccessSuccessful outcome using Tocilizumab in COVID-19 pneumonia with respiratory failure on a ward level
Author(s) -
Bianca Codrina Morărașu,
Ahmad Basirat,
M Kooblall
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
archive of clinical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2360-6975
DOI - 10.22551/2022.34.0901.10200
Subject(s) - tocilizumab , medicine , intensive care unit , context (archaeology) , pneumonia , pulmonary embolism , covid-19 , respiratory failure , intensive care medicine , disease , paleontology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
We describe the case of a 40-year-old man of Asian ethnicity, who presented with one week history of shortness of breath, productive cough, intermittent hemoptysis, temperature, and systemic symptoms. He had a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2, standard COVID panel admission blood tests, a chest X-ray and a CT Pulmonary Angiogram. Significant bilateral infiltrates and no pulmonary embolism were identified. The patient received standard COVID-19 treatment. After 36 hours, he deteriorated requiring initiation of non-invasive ventilatory (NIV) support. In the context of worsening clinical status, the patient received Tocilizumab as a single dose with good clinical response. Early Tocilizumab intervention in appropriately selected patients should improve the outcome and length of hospitalization in COVID-19 pneumonia. It can be used as an intensive therapy unit sparing agent allowing management of critically ill patients on a ward-based level. This may further contribute to prevention of intensive therapy unit related complications and increased mortality.