Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

Volume 11, Issue 2, June 2021, Pages 233 - 237

A Case Series of Severe Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Treated with Tocilizumab and Glucocorticoids: A Report from Saudi Arabian Hospital

Authors
Salma AlBahrani1, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq2, 3, 4, *, ORCID, Abdulaziz R. Alshaer1, Amal Shilash1, Khalid Alswefy1, Razan Salamah Al-Zayer1, Amr Mohamed Abouelela1
1King Fahad Military Medical Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2Infectious Disease Unit, Specialty Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
3Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
4Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
*Corresponding author. Email: jaffar.tawfiq@jhah.com; jaltawfi@yahoo.com
Corresponding Author
Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
Received 3 December 2020, Accepted 9 January 2021, Available Online 22 January 2021.
DOI
10.2991/jegh.k.210112.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
SARS-COV-2; COVID-19; Tocilizumab; therapy; steroid
Abstract

Background: The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 is variable and ranges from asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, moderately severe and severe disease. A small proportion might develop severe disease and may have cytokine storm. One of the therapeutic options to treat such cases is Tocilizumab (TCZ). In this study, we present cases of severe COVID-19 treated with TCZ and glucocorticoids and discuss the treatment responses.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of severe COVID-19 cases treated with TCZ and glucocorticoids. The case series examined the characteristics and outcome of those patients.

Results: This study included 40 Severe Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) confirmed patients who received TCZ and glucocorticoids. The mean age of the included patients was 57.55 (±Standard deviation 12.86) years. There were 34 (85%) males, 19 (47.5%) were obese (BMI >30), 13 (32.5%) over weight, and five (12.5%) normal weight. The mean days from positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to admission was 1.641 (±3.2) days. Of the patients, 18 (45%) had diabetes mellitus, 14 (35%) had hypertension. The mean days from hospital admission to ICU was 1.8 (±2.6), 20 (50%) required mechanical ventilation, 39 (97.5%) had received prone position, seven (17.5%) had renal replacement therapy, 13 (32.5%) required inotropes, four (10%) had plasmapheresis, one (2.5%) had intravenous immunoglobulin, all patients received steroid therapy, and the majority 31 (77.5%) did not receive any anti-viral therapy. Of all the patients, six (15%) died, 28 (70%) were discharged and six (15%) were still in hospital.

Conclusion: The overall mortality rate was lower than those cited in meta-analysis. As our understanding of the COVID-19 continues, the approach and therapeutics are also evolving.

Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
11 - 2
Pages
233 - 237
Publication Date
2021/01/22
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.2991/jegh.k.210112.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Salma AlBahrani
AU  - Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
AU  - Abdulaziz R. Alshaer
AU  - Amal Shilash
AU  - Khalid Alswefy
AU  - Razan Salamah Al-Zayer
AU  - Amr Mohamed Abouelela
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/01/22
TI  - A Case Series of Severe Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Treated with Tocilizumab and Glucocorticoids: A Report from Saudi Arabian Hospital
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 233
EP  - 237
VL  - 11
IS  - 2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/jegh.k.210112.001
DO  - 10.2991/jegh.k.210112.001
ID  - AlBahrani2021
ER  -