Mouna Ben Azaiz
Laboratory of Immunology, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Research Unit 17 DN05, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Bassem Chatbri
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Emergency Department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Walid Sellami
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Intensive Care Unit, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Chihebeddine Romdhani
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Research Unit 17 DN05, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Khaled Lamine
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Emergency Department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Ezzedine Ghazouani
Laboratory of Immunology, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Ridha Oueslati
Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Science, Bizert, Tunis, Tunisia
Hedi Gharsallah
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Research Unit 17 DN05, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia; Intensive Care Unit, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Mustapha Ferjani
Faculty of Medicine, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Intensive Care Unit, Military Hospital of Tunis, Montfleury - 1008, Tunis, Tunisia
Abstract
The SARS CoV-2 pandemic is a global health threat with high morbidity and mortality (1 to 4%) rates. COVID-19 is correlated with important immune disorders, including a “cytokine storm”. A new therapeutic approach using the immunomodulatory drug, Anti-IL6 (tocilizimub), has been proposed to regulate it. We report here the first Tunisian experience using tocilizimub in two severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest scan tomography. Biological parameters showed a high level of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) that increased significantly during hospitalization. The patients developed hypoxia, so they received intravenously 8 mg/kg body weight tocilizumab. There was a resultant decrease in the level of IL6, with clinically good evolution. Blocking the cytokine IL-6 axis is a promising therapy for patients developing COVID-19 pathology.
