Johns Hopkins University

A retrospective observational study at 13 hospitals in New Jersey was conducted to compare the clinical outcomes in individuals infected with COVID-19 who received tocilizumab (TCZ) to infected individuals who did not receive TCZ.  Hospital-related mortality was the primary endpoint established for the study.  All 630 patients included in the study required support from the intensive care unit (ICU).  420 patients did not receive TCZ and 210 patients did receive TCZ.  

49% of the patients who received TCZ died and 61% of patients who did not receive TCZ died.  A multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted which revealed an association between getting TCZ and lower hospital-related mortality.  Patients who needed support from a ventilator and patients who were under the age of 65 showed an especially favorable decrease in hospital-related mortality upon receiving TCZ.  Additionally, patients with concentrations of 15 mg/dL or above of C-reactive protein who received TCZ also especially exhibited a favorable decrease in hospital-related mortality.  

Tocilizumab among patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit: a multicentre observational study

Biran, N., Ip, A., Ahn, J., Go, R. C., Wang, S., Mathura, S., Sinclaire, B. A., Bednarz, U., Marafelias, M., Hansen, E., Siegel, D. S., Goy, A. H., Pecora, A. L., Sawczuk, I. S., Koniaris, L. S., Simwenyi, M., Varga, D. W., Tank, L. K., Stein, A. A., … Goldberg, S. L. (2020). Tocilizumab among patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit: A multicentre observational study. The Lancet Rheumatology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30277-0

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