Outcome Comparison Between Tocilizumab Alone Vs Tocilizumab Followed by Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Group in Critical COVID-19 Disease

Abstract

Currently, COVID-19 is one of the most pressing healthcare problems across the world. With no definitive pharmacological guidelines, multiple drugs were used to treat critical patients with little success. of Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody has shown some role in the treatment of Covid-19 infection. The study was a cross-sectional prospective observational study. It was conducted in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, and National Medical Centre Karachi. The study was conducted from 15th June 2020 to 31st July 2020. Objective of the study was to compare the outcomes of severe to critical COVID-19 patients with established Cytokine release Syndrome (CRS), who received Tocilizumab with the group received Tocilizumab followed by intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). Two groups were made with one receiving Tocilizumab alone while the other received IVIG after Tocilizumab. Comparison was then made based on frequency of mortality as well the need of mechanical ventilation and its range of days. In results 4 (15.4%) patients in Tocilizumab only group died while Tocilizumab followed by IVIG treated group had 10 (38.46%) deaths. 20 (76.9%) patients needed mechanical ventilation in Tocilizumab only group while Tocilizumab followed by IVIG treated group consisted of 23 (88.46%) patients. This concludes that the group with only Tocilizumab therapy has better outcome as compare to the group who received both Tocilizumab and intravenous immunoglobulins.