Role of Itolizumab in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients in ICU Patients

Covid variants are mutating and are still a global threat, irrespective of the type of variant and its replication potential, the cytokine storm, which needs to be addressed with promptness contributes to the ultimate severe illness. Now, this cytokine storm is characterized by the abnormal release of circulating cytokines causing adverse reactions.

The study that I am talking about aimed to evaluate the effect of itolizumab on clinical outcomes of patients with moderate-severe COVID-19 disease admitted to ICU. The primary aim of the current study is to find out any mortality benefit in 14 days while the secondary aim was to assess the morbidity outcomes in terms of reduction in inflammatory markers and also the duration of hospital stays.

A retrospective case-control study included a total of 62 patients. Out of which 31 patients received itolizumab and 31 patients didn't receive itolizumab (designated as controls).

Among the total patients recruited, 68% of the study population was male and 32% were female. A total of 12 patients expired among cases and 13 expired among controls. So the results showed that the overall mortality in both groups was noted to be almost similar. There was also a significant reduction in inflammatory markers, like interleukins-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer in cases compared to the control group.

Hence, the researchers concluded that treating patients with cytokine storms before they require intubation/mechanical ventilation is crucial to preventing deaths. Itolizumab has shown no clinical benefit in critically ill COVID-19 patients, however, timely initiation of itolizumab therapy may serve as a key therapeutic option in preventing the mortality and morbidity outcomes in moderate-severe COVID-19 patients.

Reference:

Kurri N, Tyagi B, Kaushik A, et al. Role of Itolizumab in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients, Admitted to ICU at a Tertiary Care Hospital. J Assoc Physicians India 2022;70(10):35–38.