Clinical experience of tocilizumab treatment among a cohort of patients with COVID-19 infection from Western India

BACKGROUND: Initiation of tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early phases of cytokine storm is crucial. This study evaluated the clinical experience of TCZ use in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients (>18 years) with confirmed COVID19 treated with TCZ alone/in combination with other drugs. Data related to demographics, clinical characteristics, radiological parameters, oxygen/ventilator/vasopressor support, treatment parameters, laboratory investigations pre- and post-TCZ treatment, and clinical outcomes were retrieved from medical records. RESULTS: Out of 95 patients (mean age, 55 years), 68.4% and 31.6% of patients had moderate and severe COVID-19 disease, respectively. The mean time to TCZ administration from symptom onset was 8.7 days. At the time of admission, the mean oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) was 90.4% and mean concentration of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) was 80.6%. The most commonly received dose of TCZ was 400 mg (84.2%) intravenously. The mean concentration of FiO(2) and SpO(2) improved significantly during the treatment (P < 0.001) compared to before TCZ initiation. The change in median levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) from baseline to post-treatment (63.0 vs. 4.5 mg/dL; P < 0.001) was significant. Post TCZ treatment, 73.6% of patients improved; whereas 26.4% of patients died. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (23.2%) and elevated transaminases (12.6%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab administration during earlier phase of cytokine storm syndrome leads to reversal of abnormal SpO(2) and FiO(2) concentrations to normal levels and rapid decline of elevated CRP levels in patients with COVID-19.