Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report
Chunlan Fu,1 Yuanyuan Zhu,2 Weijia Huang,2 Yi Luo,2 Yongxian Hu,2 He Huang,2 Jie Sun2 1Department of Hematology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311800, People’s Republic of China; 2Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University S...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Infection and Drug Resistance |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/using-tocilizumab-in-hematologic-malignant-patients-with-severe-covid--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR |
| _version_ | 1827387995864432640 |
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| author | Fu C Zhu Y Huang W Luo Y Hu Y Huang H Sun J |
| author_facet | Fu C Zhu Y Huang W Luo Y Hu Y Huang H Sun J |
| author_sort | Fu C |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chunlan Fu,1 Yuanyuan Zhu,2 Weijia Huang,2 Yi Luo,2 Yongxian Hu,2 He Huang,2 Jie Sun2 1Department of Hematology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311800, People’s Republic of China; 2Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jie Sun; He Huang, Email jsun1492@zju.edu.cn; huanghe@zju.edu.cnBackground: Patients with hematologic malignancies usually have severe immunodeficiency and are much more likely to be severe after COVID-19 infection. Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is recommended for treating severe conditions in the latest COVID-19 treatment guidelines. However, the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in hematologic malignancy patients have yet to be clarified. We report five hematologic malignancy patients with severe COVID-19 infection who were all successfully recovered with tocilizumab treatment.Methods: We reported five hematologic malignant patients who developed severe COVID-19 infection and received tocilizumab at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in China from Dec 2022 to Mar 2023. We observed the effect of tocilizumab on COVID-19 infection and evaluated its safety.Results: Five hematologic malignancy patients with severe COVID-19 infection were retrospectively enrolled. The dosage of tocilizumab was 400– 480mg once; one patient used a second dose of tocilizumab on the third day of medication. After receiving tocilizumab treatment, all five patients experienced a rapid decrease in body temperature and C-reactive protein (CRP) within 24 hours and improved oxygen requirement within one to three days (one patient did not experience hypoxia). Chest CT scans after one week showed absorption of lung infection. The serum IL-6 levels of three patients showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. None of the patients experienced grade 3– 4 hematologic or non-hematologic toxicity.Conclusion: Tocilizumab can improve the outcome of severe COVID-19 infection in hematologic malignancy patients with severe immunodeficiency without severe adverse reactions.Keywords: COVID-19, hematologic malignancy, tocilizumab |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:10:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fa864cdcf744871a556374d2650a7ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-6973 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:10:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infection and Drug Resistance |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fa864cdcf744871a556374d2650a7ee2024-01-07T18:06:43ZengDove Medical PressInfection and Drug Resistance1178-69732024-01-01Volume 17313989492Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series ReportFu CZhu YHuang WLuo YHu YHuang HSun JChunlan Fu,1 Yuanyuan Zhu,2 Weijia Huang,2 Yi Luo,2 Yongxian Hu,2 He Huang,2 Jie Sun2 1Department of Hematology, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhuji, Zhejiang, 311800, People’s Republic of China; 2Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jie Sun; He Huang, Email jsun1492@zju.edu.cn; huanghe@zju.edu.cnBackground: Patients with hematologic malignancies usually have severe immunodeficiency and are much more likely to be severe after COVID-19 infection. Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is recommended for treating severe conditions in the latest COVID-19 treatment guidelines. However, the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in hematologic malignancy patients have yet to be clarified. We report five hematologic malignancy patients with severe COVID-19 infection who were all successfully recovered with tocilizumab treatment.Methods: We reported five hematologic malignant patients who developed severe COVID-19 infection and received tocilizumab at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in China from Dec 2022 to Mar 2023. We observed the effect of tocilizumab on COVID-19 infection and evaluated its safety.Results: Five hematologic malignancy patients with severe COVID-19 infection were retrospectively enrolled. The dosage of tocilizumab was 400– 480mg once; one patient used a second dose of tocilizumab on the third day of medication. After receiving tocilizumab treatment, all five patients experienced a rapid decrease in body temperature and C-reactive protein (CRP) within 24 hours and improved oxygen requirement within one to three days (one patient did not experience hypoxia). Chest CT scans after one week showed absorption of lung infection. The serum IL-6 levels of three patients showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. None of the patients experienced grade 3– 4 hematologic or non-hematologic toxicity.Conclusion: Tocilizumab can improve the outcome of severe COVID-19 infection in hematologic malignancy patients with severe immunodeficiency without severe adverse reactions.Keywords: COVID-19, hematologic malignancy, tocilizumabhttps://www.dovepress.com/using-tocilizumab-in-hematologic-malignant-patients-with-severe-covid--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDRcovid-19hematologic malignancytocilizumab |
| spellingShingle | Fu C Zhu Y Huang W Luo Y Hu Y Huang H Sun J Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report Infection and Drug Resistance covid-19 hematologic malignancy tocilizumab |
| title | Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report |
| title_full | Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report |
| title_fullStr | Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report |
| title_short | Using Tocilizumab in Hematologic Malignant Patients with Severe COVID-19 Infection – Case Series Report |
| title_sort | using tocilizumab in hematologic malignant patients with severe covid 19 infection ndash case series report |
| topic | covid-19 hematologic malignancy tocilizumab |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/using-tocilizumab-in-hematologic-malignant-patients-with-severe-covid--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR |
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