Bowel ulceration following tocilizumab administration in a COVID-19 patient
Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6, has been used to treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in a subset of patients with severe COVID-19 disease. Acute ulcerative bowel disease has been only rarely documented in patients treated for rheumatological conditions. The gastrointestin...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2020-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Gastroenterology |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000484.full |
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| Summary: | Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-6, has been used to treat cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in a subset of patients with severe COVID-19 disease. Acute ulcerative bowel disease has been only rarely documented in patients treated for rheumatological conditions. The gastrointestinal side effects seen when used in the context of COVID-19 are unknown. We present a case of COVID-19 CRS in which acute terminal ileum and perforated caecal ulceration evolved after tocilizumab exposure. We raise awareness of a possible causal relationship between even a single dose of tocilizumab and gut ulceration in patients with COVID-19. Any such drug enteropathy relationship requires watchful monitoring during upcoming trials of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19. |
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| ISSN: | 2054-4774 |