Tocilizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal IL-6 receptor antibody indicated for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.
Following clinical observation from China, a series of Italian studies have been carried out to evaluate the off-label use of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients.
The European Journal of Internal Medicine (EJIM) has recently accepted for publication three articles on the off-label use of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19. These studies suggest that tocilizumab may have a therapeutic value by improving the outcome of patients with severe COVID-19 infections. However, as Prof Marcel Levi points out in an editorial accompanying the articles, 'these results need confirmation in a prospective and properly controlled randomized trial before this treatment can be advocated'.
At the same time, Levi continues, 'it is tempting to speculate why specific anti-IL-6 targeted treatment would be more effective than more general anti-inflammatory interventions. Apart from the prominent role of IL-6 in the host-defense response in COVID-19 it may be that specific beneficial effects of tocilizumab on the coagulation abnormalities associated with COVID-19 are also relevant'.
Owing to the interest so far raised by these articles, the Editors decided to hold a live web session for an open discussion.
Editorial: Tocilizumab for severe COVID-19: A promising intervention affecting inflammation and coagulation
M. Levi
VIEW ARTICLEImpact of low dose tocilizumab on mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia
R. Capra, N. De Rossi, F. Mattioli, G. Romanelli, C. Scarpazza, M.P. Sormani, S. Cossi
VIEW ARTICLEOff-label use of tocilizumab for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Milan, Italy
Valentina Morena, L. Milazzo, L. Oreni, G. Bestetti, T. Fossali, C. Bassoli, A. Torre, M.V. Cossu, C. Minari, E. Ballone, A. Perotti, D. Mileto, F. Niero, S. Merli, A. Foschi, S. Vimercati, G. Rizzardini, S. Sollima, L. Bradanini, L. Galimberti, R. Colombo, V. Micheli, C. Negri, A.L. Ridolfo, L. Meroni, M. Galli, S. Antinori, M. Corbellino
VIEW ARTICLEEfficacy and safety of tocilizumab in severe COVID-19 patients: a single-centre retrospective cohort study
Corrado Campochiaro, E. Della-Torre, G. Cavalli, G. De Luca, M. Ripa, N. Boffini, A. Tomelleri, E. Baldissera, P. Rovere-Querini, A. Ruggeri, G. Monti, F. De Cobelli, A. Zangrillo, M. Tresoldi, A. Castagna, L. Dagna, for the TOCI-RAF Study Group
VIEW ARTICLE
Prof Lorenzo Dagna
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
Dr Flavia Mattioli
ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
Dr Laura Milazzo
ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
DISCLAIMER
The statements and opinions presented during this web streaming are solely those of the individual speakers and do not reflect those of the organizing agency, editors or the publisher. The Editor-in-Chief and the Publisher waive any responsibility for any damage resulting from any assumptions or products referred to in the web streaming.
SMC media does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information presented during this web streaming. Any liability claims against the speakers in respect of damage caused by the use of the information provided, including any kind of information which is incorrect or incomplete, are therefore excluded.
All rights reserved. No part of this web streaming may be privately recorded, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission from the organizer.