TY - JOUR ID - TI - Role of IL6 Antagonist, Tocilizumab in Treating Covid 19; A Narrative Review AU - Ali Mansoor Al Ameri PY - 2020 VL - 13 IS - 2 SP - 2384 EP - 2389 JO - Karbala Journal of Medicine مجلة كربلاء الطبية SN - 19905483 29580889 AB - Background and objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid 19) is the most severe pandemic hit the world during the last century. Generally, the diseases course has two phases, a viral phases and a more damaging immune mediated phases. The latter might lead to major organ failure and even death. Many therapeutic options have been tried most of them was not proven regarding safety and efficacy. Tocilizumab is the most widely used cytokine antagonist in order to combat for the cytokine storm of covid 19. It is an Anti- IL 6 monoclonal antibody used in severe cases to reverse the expected cytokine storm. Until recently, there is insufficient data regarding indications, safety, efficacy and exact dosing regimen of tocilizumab. The current narrative review tried to answer the above parameters in question.Method: This is a narrative review involving the effectiveness, the dose and indications of tocilizumab as a treatment option for covid 19 infection. To do so, search on Pubmed using the following keywords: tocilizumab, covid 19, effectiveness, dose and indication with varying mixes. Results: the search results revealed a total of 514 results, of them only 236 were included in this review.Conclusion: Tocilizumab, is highly effective therapy especially for severe and critical covid 19 infections. The usual recommended dose by FDA (up to 3 infusions of 8 mg/ kg body wt.) is the rule, but can be used in a lower dosage and as a single dose, also.

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