PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Tomás Palanques-Pastor AU - Eduardo López-Briz AU - José Luis Poveda Andrés TI - Involvement of interleukin 6 in SARS-CoV-2 infection: siltuximab as a therapeutic option against COVID-19 AID - 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-002322 DP - 2020 Jun 04 TA - European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy PG - ejhpharm-2020-002322 4099 - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2020/06/04/ejhpharm-2020-002322.short 4100 - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2020/06/04/ejhpharm-2020-002322.full AB - The aim of the study was to explore the involvement of interleukin 6 in SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to position the drug siltuximab in the management of severe forms of COVID-19. A bibliographic search was performed in Pubmed on the immune response to the disease, and in ClinicalTrials.gov on clinical trials with interleukin 6 blockers. Interleukin 6 is involved in the cytokine cascade, which originates as a consequence of an excessive immune response secondary to viral infection, aggravating lung affectation. Blockers of this cytokine (tocilizumab, sarilumab and siltuximab) are being studied as a strategy for treating the disease. Siltuximab is a monoclonal antibody indicated in Castleman's disease that could be administered in a single dose of 11 mg/kg in severe forms of COVID-19 that have increased interleukin 6.