The Impact of Tocilizumab on Radiological Changes Assessed by Quantitative Chest CT in Severe COVID-19 Patients

What did we learn about tocilizumab use against COVID-19? A single-center observational study from an intensive care unit in Serbia

Background

Selection of effective and safe therapy for management of patients with coronavirus disease is challenging. Tocilizumab (TZB) has emerged as a potential treatment option for COVID-19. Several aspects regarding Tocilizumab treatment remain uncertain, such as the optimal timing for its administration and the safety profile, including the potential risk of infections. The aim of the study is to present the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 following the application of Tocilizumab.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 121 patients with severe forms of COVID-19 previously treated with Tocilizumab was conducted. All patients were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

Results

Of 121 patients, the majority were men 72 (59.5%) with a median age at presentation of 65 ± 13 years. Only 9 (7.43%) patients were without comorbidities, while the other 112 (92.55%) had two or more comorbidities. Almost all of the 120 patients (99.2%) needed oxygen therapy, such as nasal cannulas in 110 (90.9%) patients, high flow nasal catheter (HFNC) in 4 (3.3%) patients, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in 5 (4.1%) patients while 1 patient was intubated at the time of hospital admission. The average time from Tocilizumab application to admission to the ICU was 3 days. During clinical deterioration, almost half 57 (47.1%) of the patients were intubated, and 52 (82.5%) of these intubated patients (p < 0.001) had lethal outcomes. The most significant predictors for a lethal outcome according to multivariate analysis were diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001) followed by a subsequent elevation in C-reactive protein levels (CRP; p < 0.002) and ferritin (p < 0.013) after Tocilizumab application. Bloodstream infections were found in 20 (16.5%) patients, most frequently with Gram-negative pathogens like Acinetobacter spp. as in 12 (18.6%) patients, Klebsiella spp. in 6 (8%) patients, and Pseudomonas spp. in 2 (3.2%) patients. Urine culture isolates were found in 9 (7.43%) patients, with Candida spp. being most frequently isolated in 7 (5.8%) patients, followed by Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. in 1 patient each (0.8%). Significantly lower survival was seen in patients with proven infection.

Conclusion

The benefit of tocilizumab was not found in our study. The high mortality rate among intubated patients after Tocilizumab use suggests appropriate patient selection and monitoring and emphasizes the risk of superinfections. Diabetes mellitus, increased levels of CRP, and ferritin were identified as the most significant predictors of poor outcomes in contrast to increased levels of IL-6.

Coronavirus disease 2019 in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: An autopsy report

Various diseases (e.g., hypertension and diabetes) are risk factors for the exacerbation of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) tend to develop severe COVID-19. Patients with severe COVID-19 present with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and many COVID-19-related ARDS survivors eventually develop fibrosis. However, the appropriate management of patients with COVID-19 and ILD and post-COVID-19 ILD remains unclear. Thus, a better understanding of the pathology that exacerbates COVID-19 in patients with ILD is needed. We report the autopsy results of a patient with COVID-19 and combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, whose lung organization and fibrosis progressed after the acute phase of infection. Histopathological findings suggest that fatal pulmonary fibrosis persists after the negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2. Elucidating the cause of death by autopsy may help determine therapeutic strategies in patients with COVID-19 and ILD. Vaccination and early administration of anti-inflammatory drugs or antifibrotic agents may be crucial for preventing disease progression and fatal lung fibrosis. This report aims to clarify the histopathological features of COVID-19 in patients with ILD via autopsy and discuss treatment strategies.

Coagulation Disorders in Sepsis and COVID-19-Two Sides of the Same Coin? A Review of Inflammation-Coagulation Crosstalk in Bacterial Sepsis and COVID-19

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Sepsis-associated coagulation disorders are involved in the pathogenesis of multiorgan failure and lead to a subsequently worsening prognosis. Alongside the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a great number of research papers have focused on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and treatment. Significant progress has been made in this regard and coagulation disturbances were once again found to underlie some of the most serious adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as acute lung injury and multiorgan dysfunction. In the attempt of untangling the mechanisms behind COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC), a series of similarities with sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) became apparent. Whether they are, in fact, the same disease has not been established yet. The clinical picture of CAC shows the unique feature of an initial phase of intravascular coagulation confined to the respiratory system. Only later on, patients can develop a clinically significant form of systemic coagulopathy, possibly with a consumptive pattern, but, unlike SIC, it is not a key feature. Deepening our understanding of CAC pathogenesis has to remain a major goal for the research community, in order to design and validate accurate definitions and classification criteria.

Maternal and Fetal Outcome in Pregnant Women With Critical COVID-19 Treated With Tocilizumab in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dubai

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy, complicated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), results in higher hospitalization and mortality rate. Pathogenesis of COVID-19 is similar to any other systemic inflammatory condition but results in a cytokine storm of higher magnitude causing severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. Tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, targets soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors and is used in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cytokine release syndrome. However, studies exploring its role in pregnancy are minimal. Hence, this study was done to study the effect of tocilizumab on maternal and fetal outcomes in critical COVID-19 pregnant women.

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective study was conducted on 28 pregnant women with critical COVID-19 who received tocilizumab. Clinical status, chest x-ray, biochemical parameters, and fetal well-being were monitored and documented. The discharged patients were followed up through telemedicine.

RESULT

On treatment with tocilizumab, improvement was seen in the number of zones and patterns of chest x-ray, along with 80% reduction in the c-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Based on the WHO clinical progression scale, 20 patients improved by the end of first week, and by the end of first month, 26 patients became asymptomatic. Two patients died during the course of the disease. No fetal adverse effects were noted.

CONCLUSION

Based on the encouraging response and as tocilizumab did not impart any adverse effects on the pregnancy, tocilizumab may be administered as an adjuvant to critical COVID-19 pregnant women in their second and third trimesters.

Predictors of Liver Injury in Hospitalized Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Background and Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is frequently associated with pneumonia but has a broad tissue tropism also leading to systemic complications (hematologic, gastro-intestinal, cardiac, neurologic, etc.). In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection on the liver and to identify the risk factors/predictors for liver injury at admission to the hospital. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on 249 patients, divided into two Group A (157 patients with liver involvement) and Group B (92 patients without liver involvement). We recorded demographic and lifestyle parameters, anthropometric parameters, comorbidities, clinical parameters, inflammation markers, complete blood count, coagulation, and biochemical parameters. Lung parenchyma, liver dimensions, and morphology were evaluated by computer tomography (CT) scans. Results: Patients with liver involvement had higher heart and respiratory rates, lower oxygen saturation (SO₂), and necessitated higher oxygen flow at admittance. We found higher serum levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, ferritin, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum triglycerides, and lower values for serum albumin in Group A patients. The patients with liver involvement presented more extensive lung injury with higher percentages of alveolar, mixed, and interstitial lesions, an increase in liver dimensions, and lower density ranges for the liver parenchyma. The patients presented hepatocytolytic involvement in 26 cases (10.4% from the entire study population), cholestatic involvement in 63 cases (37.7% from the entire study population), and mixed liver involvement in 68 cases (37.7% from the entire study population). Conclusions: Liver involvement in COVID-19 patients is frequent, usually mild, and occurs mostly in male patients over 50 years old. Cholestatic and mixed liver injuries are more frequent than hepatocytolytic injuries. The severity of lung injury evaluated by CT scan, increased values of inflammatory markers, LDH, and low values of SO₂ can be considered risk factors/predictors for liver injury at admission to the hospital.

Pulmonary Involvement in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Estimates Myocardial Injury Risk

Background and Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection represents a pathology with primary pulmonary involvement and multisystemic impact, including cardiovascular injuries. The present study aimed to assess the value of clinical, biochemical, and imaging factors in COVID-19 patients in determining the severity of myocardial involvement, and to create a model that can be used toevaluate myocardial injury risk based on clinical, biochemical and imaging factors. Materials and Methods: We performed an observational cohort study on 150 consecutive patients, evaluating their age, sex, hospitalization period, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) in ambient air, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, biochemical markers of cardiac dysfunction (TnI, and NT-proBNP), inflammatory markers (C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, serum ferritin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)), D-dimers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin and radio-imaging parameters. All patients underwent computerized tomography chest scan in the first two days following admission. Results: We observed elevated heart and respiratory rates, higher systolic blood pressure, and a lower diastolic blood pressure in the patients with cardiac injury; significant differences between groups were registered in TnI, NT-proBNP, LDH, CRP, and D-dimers. For the radiological parameters, we found proportional correlations with the myocardial injury for the severity of lung disease, number of pulmonary segments with alveolar consolidation, number of pulmonary lobes with pneumonia, crazy paving pattern, type of lung involvement, the extent of fibroatelectatic lesions and the mediastinal adenopathies. Conclusions: Myocardial injury occurred in 12% of patients in the study group. Ground glass opacities, interstitial interlobular septal thickening (crazy paving pattern), fibroatelectasic lesions and alveolar consolidations on CT scan were correlated with myocardial injury. Routine lung sectional imaging along with non-specific biomarkers (LDH, D-dimers, and CRP) can be further valuable in the characterization of the disease burden, thus impacting patient care.

Interstitial Lung Fibrosis Following COVID-19 Pneumonia

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis represents a stage of normal physiologic response to inflammatory aggression, mostly self-limiting and reversible; however, numerous patients treated for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia present after release from hospital residual lung fibrosis. In this article, we aim to present an optimization method for evaluating pulmonary fibrosis by quantitative analysis, to identify the risk factors/predictors for pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to characterize the impact of pulmonary fibrosis on the symptomatology of patients after release from the hospital. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective observational study on 100 patients with severe forms of pneumonia, with a control group of 61 non-COVID normal patients. Results: We found persistent interstitial changes consistent with fibrotic changes in 69% of patients. The risk of fibrosis was proportional to the values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and to the duration of hospitalization. The imaging parameters correlated with increased risk for interstitial fibrosis were the number of affected pulmonary lobes and the percent of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusions: The main risk factors for pulmonary fibrosis post-COVID-19 identified in our study are increased ESR, CRP, LDH, duration of hospitalization and the severity of pneumonia.

Pericardial Involvement in Severe COVID-19 Patients

Background and Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 has an extensive tissue tropism due to its ability to attach to the surfaces of cells through different receptors, leading to systemic complications. In this article, we aim to present the prevalence of pericardial effusions in patients with severe COVID-19, to identify the risk factors/predictors for pericardial involvement, and to evaluate its impact on overall mortality. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 100 patients with severe COVID-19 in our observational cohort study and divided them in two groups: Group A (27 patients with pericardial effusion) and Group B (73 patients without pericardial effusion). We recorded demographic and lifestyle parameters, anthropometric parameters, clinical parameters, inflammation markers, respiratory function parameters, complete blood count, coagulation parameters, and biochemical serum parameters. All patients were evaluated by computer tomography scans within 48 h of admission. Results: The median age was 61 years in both groups and the male/female ratio was 3.5 vs. 2.8 in Group A vs. Group B. We identified mild pericardial effusion (3–4 mm) in 62.9% patients and moderate pericardial effusion (5–9 mm) in 37.1% patients, with a median value of 4 [3;6] mm. The patients with pericardial effusion presented with higher percentages of obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and congestive heart failure, without statistical significance. Increased values in cardiac enzymes (myoglobin, CK, CK-MB) and LDH were statistically associated with pericardial effusion. The overall mortality among the participants of the study was 24% (24 patients), 33.3% in Group A and 20.8% in Group B. Conclusions: Pericardial effusion has a high prevalence (27%) among patients with severe forms of COVID-19 and was associated with higher mortality. Pericardial effusion in our study was not associated with the presence of comorbidities or the extent of lung involvement. Overall mortality was 60% higher in patients with pericardial effusion.

Mortality Predictors in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Background and Objectives: The severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are associated with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and high mortality rates, raising significant challenges for the medical community. The objective of this paper is to present the importance of early quantitative evaluation of radiological changes in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, including an alternative way to evaluate lung involvement using normal density clusters. Based on these elements we have developed a more accurate new predictive score which includes quantitative radiological parameters. The current evolution models used in the evaluation of severe cases of COVID-19 only include qualitative or semi-quantitative evaluations of pulmonary lesions which lead to a less accurate prognosis and assessment of pulmonary involvement. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study that included 100 adult patients admitted with confirmed severe COVID-19. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (76 survivors) and group B (24 non-survivors). All patients were evaluated by CT scan upon admission in to the hospital. Results: We found a low percentage of normal lung densities, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, lymphocytes, platelets, hemoglobin and serum albumin associated with higher mortality; a high percentage of interstitial lesions, oxygen flow, FiO2, Neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase MB, myoglobin, and serum creatinine were also associated with higher mortality. The most accurate regression model included the predictors of age, lymphocytes, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, percent of lung involvement, lactate dehydrogenase, serum albumin, D-dimers, oxygen flow, and myoglobin. Based on these parameters we developed a new score (COV-Score). Conclusions: Quantitative assessment of lung lesions improves the prediction algorithms compared to the semi-quantitative parameters. The cluster evaluation algorithm increases the non-survivor and overall prediction accuracy.COV-Score represents a viable alternative to current prediction scores, demonstrating improved sensitivity and specificity in predicting mortality at the time of admission.