Tocilizumab in severe COVID-19 pneumonia and concomitant cytokine release syndrome

Tom D. A. van Kraaij, R. my L. M. Mostard, Sofia Ramiro, Cesar Magro Checa, Christel M. P. van Dongen, Eric H. J. van Haren, Jacqueline Buijs, Robert B. M. Landewé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Younger patients with COVID-19 may experience an exaggerated immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and develop cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which may be life threatening. There is no proven antiviral therapy for COVID-19 so far, but profound immunosuppression has recently been suggested as a treatment for COVID-19-associated CRS. We present a case of life-threatening CRS caused by COVID-19 infection with a favourable response to immunosuppressive therapy with tocilizumab (TCZ). The rapid clinical and biochemical improvement following TCZ administration suggests that treatment with immunotherapy can be life-saving in selected patients with COVID-19-induced CRS.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean journal of case reports in internal medicine
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Cite this