In a new study, researchers found that patients experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms had improved outcomes when used an Interleukin-6 (IL6ri) inhibitor, sarilumab, or tocilizumab.
The treatment was more effective when administered earlier in the disease course and reduced mortality rates and the need for intubation.
The results show Interleukin-6 inhibitors appear to be a more effective treatment compared to other options, including remedesvir and dexamethasone, which are recommended and currently used in the pandemic.
The research was conducted by a team from Boston Medical Center.
Elevated IL-6 levels may mediate the severe systemic inflammatory responses that occur in patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome or a COVID-19 infection.
This study included 255 COVID-19-confirmed patients being treated with IL6ri during stage IIB (149 patients) and stage III of the disease (106 patients).
The patients were divided into two groups, stage IIB and stage III based on their fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2).
Patients requiring up to 45% FiO2 were considered to be stage IIB and those more severe who were requiring greater than 45% FiO2 were considered to be stage III.
The discharge rate was higher for the stage IIB group compared to the stage III group, showing the impact that earlier drug administration can have throughout the progression of COVID-19.
The average length of stay in the hospital was 12.9 days, but patients treated in stage IIB had a shorter average length of stay (11.3 days) than those in stage III (15 days).
A total of 68 patients (26.7%) required mechanical ventilation, and of these patients, 44 were intubated 24 hours later, after receiving IL6ri.
The team says at a time where treatments are being tested with urgency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this study results offer some hope towards finding solutions to better treat patients throughout this disease.
One author of the study is Manish Sagar, MD, an infectious diseases physician.
The study is published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Copyright © 2020 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
