Comparative study of tocilizumab versus itolizumab in coronavirus disease 2019-infected patients: a randomized controlled trial

Objective We aimed to compare the effect of tocilizumab and itolizumab in terms of PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F ratio), interleukin 6 (IL-6) level, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, and a reduction in mortality. Our primary objective was to compare P/F ratio at various time intervals: baseline (before administering the drug), 12 h after drug administration, once a day for the next 7 days, and on the 14th day. Our secondary objective was to evaluate serum level of biomarkers like IL-6, ferritin, and C-reactive protein before start of drug infusion and following drug infusion at 72 h and on 7th day. Patients and methods A total of 50 patients, age between 18 and 60 years, having moderate Acute Respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following coronavirus disease 2019 infection were recruited. Patients of group I received a single dose of injection of tocilizumab 8 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.) via infusion over 1–2 h. Group II patients received premedication with hydrocortisone 100 mg and pheniramine 30 mg and a single dose of injection itolizumab 1.6 mg/kg dissolved in 250 ml of 0.9% normal saline infusion over 5–6 h. Results We observed significantly higher P/F ratio in the itolizumab group (239.18±97.31) than in the tocilizumab group (104.87±75.25) on the 3rd day following drug administration (P<0.001). Similarly, the IL-6 level was lower in the itolizumab group (72±100) in comparison with the tocilizumab group (682±1360), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). We identified adverse effects of the drugs in 10 patients who have received itolizumab. Conclusion We observed an increasing trend in P/F ratio on the 3rd day following itolizumab administration in comparison with tocilizumab, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).

Anesthetic management of cesarean sections in coronavirus disease 2019 patients at our coronavirus disease center: a case series

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious pulmonary infectious disease with respiratory symptoms. The virus, SARS-CoV-2 has shown 85% resemblance to SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The management of a COVID-19 positive mother is challenging as the virus is extremely contagious and can be life threatening to mothers and health-care personnel. Here, we describe the successful anesthetic management of 20 pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection undergoing cesarean section in our hospital. A dedicated operating room was used for cesarean delivery of a parturient with COVID-19. This dedicated operating room was located in the secluded area of our hospital, away from the rest of the operating rooms. The first choice of anesthesia was a single-shot subarachnoid block with 0.5% heavy bupivacaine.

Does Long-term Oxygen Therapy and Noninvasive Ventilation Predispose Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients?

How to cite this article: Kumar A, Kumar A, Kumar N, Kumar A, Sinha C, Singh PK. Does Long-term Oxygen Therapy and Noninvasive Ventilation Predispose Rhino-orbital-cerebral Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients? Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(9):1063-1064.

Acute Exacerbation of Cough as a Precipitating Cause of Hypoxia in COVID-19 Patients.

Kumar A, Kumar A, Kumar A, Sinha C, Kumar N, Singh PK. Acute Exacerbation of Cough as a Precipitating Cause of Hypoxia in COVID-19 Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(11):1324-1325.

Multiple Peaked Cytokine Storm: Is Multiple Exposures to the COVID-19 Virus a Possible Cause?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the pathogen that causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Recent studies have shown that the "cytokine storm" (high concentration of proinflammatory cytokines) may contribute to the mortality of COVID-19. Repeated exposure to the virus can lead to a dose-dependent immune response that may be associated with more disease severity and higher mortality. Sudden deterioration/increased oxygen consumption after initial improvement may be due to multiple surges of cytokines storm within a short period, the possible cause may be due to multiple exposures within the incubation period. We hypothesize that multiple surges in cytokines storm in some patients may be due to multiple exposures of the same patient within the incubation period, sepsis, or other inflammatory lesions inside the body. In our cases, sepsis as a cause of cytokine storm was ruled out by doing the procalcitonin test, which was within the normal limit. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kumar A, Kumar A, Kumar A, Kumar N, Sinha C, Singh V. Multiple Peaked Cytokine Storm: Is Multiple Exposures to the COVID-19 Virus a Possible Cause? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):463-464.

Off-label Use of Itolizumab in Patients with COVID-19 ARDS: Our Clinical Experience in a Dedicated COVID Center.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has affected millions of people worldwide. This pandemic requires newer medical management strategies to control the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Several approaches, including global targeting of inflammation or neutralizing a single key inflammatory mediator, are being employed to cope with cytokine storms in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The role of anti-inflammatory biologics, such as acalabrutinib, tocilizumab, anakinra, and itolizumab can become relevant. Itolizumab is a humanized recombinant immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody. It targets the extracellular, scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) distal domain 1 of CD6 and is responsible for priming, activation, and differentiation of T-cells. Itolizumab has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India for the treatment of COVID-19 in India. Here, we shared our clinical experience of 20 patients having moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 on treatment with itolizumab. We observed the mortality benefit with single-dose itolizumab (1.6 mg/kg) in patients having moderate COVID-19 ARDS. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kumari P, Kumar A, Sinha C, Kumar A, Singh PK, Arun SK. Off-label Use of Itolizumab in Patients with COVID-19 ARDS: Our Clinical Experience in a Dedicated COVID Center. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):467-469.

Dual Oxygen Therapy in COVID-19 Patient: A Method to Improve Oxygenation.

Approximately 5-6% of patients diagnosed to have COVID-19 infection present with severe hypoxemia requiring invasive ventilation or non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Additional oxygen to patients on NIV can be given by nasal prong or by connecting oxygen tubing directly to the O2 pick-off port of the NIV mask or by connecting oxygen tubing to the single-limb circuit in between ventilator and patient. Dual oxygen therapy improves oxygenation in COVID-19 patients on NIV. This method may make the patient more comfortable, increase tolerance to NIV, increase the usefulness of NIV for moderate and severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). How to cite this article: Kumar A, Kumar A, Sinha C, Kumar N, Singh K, Singh PK. Dual Oxygen Therapy in COVID-19 Patient: A Method to Improve Oxygenation. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(2):231-233.

Modified Negative Airflow Aerosol Prevention Box for COVID-19 Patients.

The importance of this intubation box has come to light recently in view of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the fact that intubation is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP). Risks of the healthcare worker attending to the airway of COVID-19 patients is high and the intubation box aims to minimize that and reduce contamination of the environment. To address this objective of decreasing transmission during AGP, we created a negative airflow aerosol box with a leak-proof airway handling system using readily available and affordable materials. The dimension of this box was 24 × 17.5 × 17.5 cm and it was made of high-quality 4 mm transparent acrylic sheet with two arm holes of 10 cm diameter. The caudal end of the negative airflow aerosol prevention box is wrapped with disposable plastic sheet and the both hand slots are sealed using camera cover and latex hand gloves and it decreases the risk of contamination. How to cite this article: Kumar N, Kumar A, Kumar A, Sinha C. Modified Negative Airflow Aerosol Prevention Box for COVID-19 Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(10):981-982.