This study aims to establish whether tocilizumab has any significant effect on procalcitonin levels on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care admission. The effects on other biochemical and clinical markers are also considered.
A retrospective study, involving the first fifty patients treated with tocilizumab for acute deterioration in COVID-19 pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mater Dei Hospital in Malta. The following parameters will be collected from medical records: * procalcitonin levels, daily for twenty days or until discharge or death. * namely white cell count (WCC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, * C-reactive protein (CRP) * PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F ratio). This group will be compared to a control group was chosen from patients admitted to the ICU who were not eligible for tocilizumab treatment, matched to the study group for age, gender, mode of ventilation required and length of stay in ICU.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Tocilizumab administered at a dose of 8mg/kg up to a maximum of 800mg
Mater Dei Hospital
Msida, Malta
Procalcitonin
effect of Tocilizumab on Procalcitonin levels
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
CRP
effect of Tocilizumab on CRP levels
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
WCC
effect of Tocilizumab on WCC levels
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
Neutrophils
effect of Tocilizumab on Neutrophils levels
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
Lymphocytes
effect of Tocilizumab on Lymphocytes levels
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
NLR
effect of Tocilizumab on Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
P/F ratio
effect of Tocilizumab on P/F ratio
Time frame: throughout study completion, daily for maximum of 20 days
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