Efficacy of Tocilizumab among Severe COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Background: Multiple diseases of inflammatory pathology have been successfully managed using the anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody. In addition, this drug has been shown to improve the outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia all over the world. Nevertheless, several reports have raised the issue of conflicting results with respects to outcomes of patients with severe cases of COVID-19 receiving tocilizumab form of treatment. Aim of the study: The current study was planned and conducted to assess the outcomes of patients receiving tocilizumab in addition to standard COVID-19 treatment in comparison with group of patients receiving only standard form of treatment. Patients and methods: The current interventional study was conducted in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital, Al-Diwaniyah Province, Iraq starting from June the 15^th 2021 through February 2022. The study included 100 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit in the hospital because of severe presentation attributed to COVID-19 pneumonia. The age range of those patients was from 18 to 80 years and they were randomly allocated into two groups, the first group (n = 50) received standard treatment beside tocilizumab whereas, the second group (n = 50) received only standard protocol (steroid, oxygen and antimicrobials). Results: There was no significant difference in mean age between group A (tocilizumab) and group B (standard treatment), 47.29 ±7.09 years versus 48.01 ±9.81 years, respectively (p > 0.05). There was also no significant variation in proportions of males and females between group A and group B, 30 (60.0 %) males and 20 (40.0 %) females versus 27 (54.0 %) males and 23 (46.0 %) females, respectively (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in rates of systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus and asthma between group A and group B (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in rate of death between group A and group B, 20 (40.0 %) versus 19 (38.0 %), respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In spite of the safety of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19, it is not efficient in reducing mortality rate in comparison with standard treatment protocol.