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Don't close the book on tocilizumab for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia-the jury is still out: The Kuwait experience

Al-Shamali Y 1 , M Ali Y 2 , Al-Shamali RA 3 , Al-Melahi M 4 , Al-Shammari FR 5 , Alsaber A 6 Show all authors , Al-Adsani W 7

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
  • 2 Department of Rheumatology, Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital, Jabriya, Kuwait
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization, Al Bahar Hospital, Kuwait
  • 4 Department of Internal Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • 5 Department of Internal Medicine, Jahra Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • 6 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • 7 Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait
PLoS One, 2021;16(8):e0254379.
PMID: 34428204 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254379

Abstract

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional observational study aims to report preliminary data from the first experience using tocilizumab for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in three of Kuwait's largest public hospitals City.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This chart review study examined the benefits of tocilizumab treatment among 127 patients diagnosed with severe coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

RESULTS: 90 of 127 patients (71%) survived. Mortality was highest in the elderly with multiple medical conditions.

CONCLUSION: Despite the small sample size and retrospective nature of the work, our findings are consistent with recent studies suggesting tocilizumab administration in patients presenting with severe COVID pneumonia with associated hyperinflammatory features conferred mortality benefit.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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