Tocilizumab Treatment Effect on Iron Homeostasis in Severe COVID-19 Patients.
Acta Haematol
; 145(4): 440-447, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1662364
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Tocilizumab has been proposed as an effective treatment for severe COVID-19. We aimed to investigate whether tocilizumab administration is associated with increased availability of serum iron which may possibly be associated with adverse effects on clinical outcomes.METHODS:
We performed an observational, retrospective cohort study. We included adults, who were hospitalized in ICU with the diagnosis of severe COVID-19 infection eligible for tocilizumab treatment. Laboratory data including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin, and C-reactive protein levels of all patients were collected shortly before and 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after tocilizumab administration.RESULTS:
During the study period, 15 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were eligible to receive tocilizumab treatment. Tocilizumab therapy was associated with a prominent increase in serum iron and transferrin saturation levels (26 ± 13 µg/dL and 15 ± 8% before treatment and 79 ± 32 µg/dL and 41 ± 15% 72 h after treatment, respectively, p < 0.001) and decrease in serum ferritin levels (1,921 ± 2,071 ng/mL before and 1,258 ± 1,140 ng/mL 72 h after treatment, p = 0.027).CONCLUSION:
Treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with tocilizumab is associated with a profound increase in serum iron and ferritin saturation levels along with a decrease in ferritin levels. This may represent an undesirable side effect that may potentiate viral replication.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
/
Iron
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Acta Haematol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
000522307
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