The Use of High-Dose Corticosteroids Versus Low-Dose Corticosteroids With and Without Tocilizumab in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Issue 1 (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Katz, Alyson; Altshuler, Diana; Papadopoulos, John; Amoroso, Nancy; Goldenberg, Ronald; Tarras, Elizabeth; Krolikowski, Kelsey; Hagedorn, Jacklyn; Fridman, David; Chen, Xian Jie Cindy; Iturrate, Eduardo; Brosnahan, Shari B.
• Is Part Of: Annals of pharmacotherapy. Volume 57:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- acute respiratory distress syndrome -- critical care -- corticosteroids -- mechanical ventilation -- pharmacology; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1177/10600280221094571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1060-0280

Abstract

Background: Corticosteroids and tocilizumab have been shown to improve survival in patients who require supplemental oxygen from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. The optimal dose of immunosuppression for the treatment of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of high- versus low-dose corticosteroids with or without tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 ARDS. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) requiring mechanical ventilation who received high- versus low-dose corticosteroids with or without tocilizumab. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Safety outcomes included infections and incidence of hyperglycemia. Results: In this cohort, 110 (54%) and 95 (46%) patients received high-dose (≥10 mg dexamethasone equivalent) and low-dose (<10 mg dexamethasone equivalent) corticosteroids for more than 3 consecutive days, respectively. Thirty-five patients (32%) in the high-dose group and 33 patients (35%) in the low-dose group survived to hospital discharge ( P = 0.85). There was no difference in 28-day mortality in patients who received high-dose corticosteroids without tocilizumab compared with those who received low-dose corticosteroids with tocilizumab (n = 38/82, 46% vs n = 19/40, 48% P = 0.99); however, there was a higher mortality if patients received low-dose corticosteroids without tocilizumab (n = 39/55, 71%, P = 0.01). The highest rate of a bacterial pneumonia was in patients who received high-dose corticosteroids with tocilizumab. Conclusions: In critically ill patients with COVID-19 ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation, we found no difference in high- versus low-dose corticosteroids with regard to survival to hospital discharge. However, patients receiving only low-dose corticosteroids without tocilizumab did worse than the other groups. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal immunosuppression dosing strategy in this patient population.