TY - JOUR
AU - Al-Shamali, Yousef
AU - Ali, Yaser M.
AU - Al-Shamali, Rawan A.
AU - Al-Melahi, Maryam
AU - Al-Shammari, Farah R.
AU - Alsaber, Ahmad R.
AU - Al-Adsani, Wasl
PY - 2021
DA - August
TI - Don't close the book on tocilizumab for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia - the jury is still out. The Kuwait experience
JO - PLoS ONE
VL - 16
IS - 8
DO - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254379
AB - Purpose: This cross-sectional observational study aims to report preliminary data from the first experience with tocilizumab administered to patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in three of the largest public hospitals in Kuwait City.  Patients and Methods: We conducted a chart review of 127 patients classified as having severe COVID-19 pneumonia with associated features of cytokine release storm treated with tocilizumab.  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 suggest tocilizumab administration in patients presenting with severe COVID pneumonia with associated cytokine release storm conferred mortality benefit.
PB - Public Library of Science
UR - https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/77450/
KW - Coronavirus (COVID-19)
KW - Hospital care
ER