Luca Bernardo, Stefania Del Sesto, Laura Giordano, Anna Rita Benincaso, Piero Biondi, Vinicio Goj, Francesca Ferrara, Antonella Talenti, Antonella Grisolia, Paolo Antonio Ascierto
Tocilizumab is one of the newest therapeutic options for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the recently discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) β-coronavirus. Several trials are currently ongoing to assess the efficacy and safety profile of tocilizumab in treating ARDS. In this article, we present the case of a Black patient with acute pneumonia who benefited greatly from tocilizumab, but developed severe prolonged neutropenia. Considering the increasing use of tocilizumab among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this case warrants further research regarding the possible adverse hematological effects that need to be monitored in order to prevent secondary infections...
September 14, 2020: Drugs & Therapy Perspectives