Open AccessTocilizumab in COVID-19: enthusiasm vs. evidence
Author(s) -
Paola A. Zeña-Huancas,
Franco León-Jiménez,
Mayte Bryce-Alberti,
Arianna Portmann-Baracco
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
lung india
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.457
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 0974-598X
pISSN - 0970-2113
DOI - 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_766_20
Subject(s) - tocilizumab , medicine , covid-19 , cytokine storm , monoclonal antibody , clinical trial , randomized controlled trial , recombinant dna , cytokine release syndrome , intensive care medicine , antibody , immunology , virology , biochemistry , chemistry , disease , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , gene
Based on the pathophysiological characterization of COVID-19, initial studies suggested the use of tocilizumab (TCZ), a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody of the immunoglobulin G1 class, for management of the cytokine storm witnessed in severe cases. Thus, we decided to present a case series of 18 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with TCZ at our hospital. Our results coincide with the fact that the routine use of TCZ in severe COVID-19 is not robustly supported. We believe that the efficacy and safety of this drug and other related molecules should be validated in large randomized clinical trials.