Eur J Case Rep Intern Med


. 2020 May 22;7(6):001731.
doi: 10.12890/2020_001731. eCollection 2020.
Effectiveness of Tocilizumab in a COVID-19 Patient With Cytokine Release Syndrome


Sadettin Uslu 1



Affiliations

Abstract

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a systemic inflammatory response that can be triggered by many factors such as infections. CRS in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is life-threatening and can occur very rapidly after COVID-19 diagnosis. Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitor, may ameliorate the CRS associated with severe COVID-19 and thus improve clinical outcomes. We present a case of life-threatening CRS caused by COVID-19 infection successfully treated with TCZ.
Learning points: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a systemic inflammatory response that can be triggered by COVID-19.CRS can be life-threatening in severe COVID-19.Tocilizumab may have a role in treating severe COVID-19 patients with CRS.

Keywords: COVID-19; Tocilizumab; cytokine release syndrome.