Low-Dose Subcutaneous Tocilizumab to Prevent Disease Progression in Patients with Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia and Hyperinflammation

Link to article at PubMed

Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 5:S1201-9712(20)30616-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.07.078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy profile of low-dose tocilizumab (TCZ) administered subcutaneously to patients with moderate COVID-19 pneumonia and hyperinflammation to prevent disease progression.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, hyperinflammation (C reactive protein ≥20 mg/dl), no hypoxemia (oxygen saturation >90%) and no contra-indications to TCZ, who were treated with subcutaneous TCZ (324 mg) administered within 48 hours from hospitalization on top of standard of care (SOC), and compared them with matched controls treated with SOC only before TCZ was available at our center. Clinical data were available for all patients until death or, for those discharged from hospital, until day 35.

FINDINGS: Ten consecutive patients (6 males, median age 55 years) treated with TCZ on top of SOC, and ten patients (6 males, median age 56 years) treated with SOC only were included. TCZ was well-tolerated, with no clinically relevant adverse events. TCZ was associated with a reduction in CRP at day 1 (-50%, IQR -28 to -80) and day 3 (-89%, IQR -79 to -96; P = 0.005 for within-group), whereas there was no significant change in CRP values in the SOC group (P < 0.001 for between-groups comparisons at both time points). TCZ resulted in a parallel improvement of oxygenation, as assessed by the ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (P/F) ratio, which increased at day 1 (+11%, IQR + 6 to +16; P = 0.005 for within-group, and P = 0.006 for between-groups comparisons), and day 3 (+23%, IQR + 16 to +34; P = 0.005 for within-group, and P = 0.003 for between-groups comparisons). None of the TCZ-treated patients had disease progression defined as requirement of oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation, whereas progression occurred in 5 (50%) patients among the SOC group.

CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose subcutaneous TCZ may be a safe and promising therapeutic option administered on top of SOC to prevent disease progression in hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19 and hyperinflammation.

PMID:32768701 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.07.078

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