Experience of using tocilizumab in the research unit of infectious hospital for patients with coronavirus infection (CoVID-19)

Abstract

The objective of the study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of tocilizumab in patients with coronavirus infection COVID-19 who were treated in the intensive care unit of an infectious diseases hospital. Material and methods. There was carried out a retrospective analysis of the case histories of 40 patients with confirmed severe and extremely severe coronavirus infection COVID-19. The average age of the patients was 58.3 ± 1.8 years, the total lung lesion volume was 83.2 ± 2.0%. Results: The survival rate of patients who received immunosuppressive therapy with tocilizumab in combination with pulse therapy of glucocorticosteroids was 55%, and 44% of patients with 100% lung involvement. The use of tocilizumab (4-8 mg / kg) led to a statistically significant decrease in the level of C-reactive protein in the blood, which was an indicator of adequate pharmacotherapy of the "cytokine storm" in the ICU.