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 Sep 01
TA  - European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
PG  - 297--298
VI  - 27
IP  - 5
4099  - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/27/5/297.short
4100  - http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/27/5/297.full
SO  - Eur J Hosp Pharm2020 Sep 01; 27
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.