Compassionate use of tocilizumab in severe SARS-CoV2 pneumonia

Introduction: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, which has been used for the treatment of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (SSP), which aims to ameliorate the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there are no consistent data about who might benefit most from it. Methods: We administered TCZ on a compassionate-use basis to patients with SSP who were hospitalized (excluding intensive care and intubated cases) and who required oxygen support to have a saturation 0.001) in those receiving the drug when the oxygen support was high (FiO2 0.5%). Conclusions: TCZ is well tolerated in patients with SSP, but it has a limited effect on the evolution of cases with high oxygen support needs. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.