©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Methodol. May 20, 2021; 11(3): 95-109
Published online May 20, 2021. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v11.i3.95
Published online May 20, 2021. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v11.i3.95
Tocilizumab as treatment for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fausto Petrelli, Oncology Unit, Asst Bergamo Ovest, Milano 20124, Italy
Sara Cherri, Department of Clinical Oncology, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia 25124, Italy
Michele Ghidini, Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Gianluca Perego, Pharmacy Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milano 20100, Italy
Antonio Ghidini, Department of Medicine, Casa di Cura Igea, Milano 20100, Italy
Alberto Zaniboni, Department of Oncology, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia 25124, Italy
Author contributions: All authors made equal contribution to this manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for evaluating records identified during the literature search.
Corresponding author: Fausto Petrelli, MD, Oncology Unit, Asst Bergamo Ovest, Piazzale Ospedale 1, Milano 20124, Italy. faustopetrelli@gmail.com
Received: November 1, 2020
Peer-review started: November 1, 2020
First decision: November 30, 2020
Revised: December 2, 2020
Accepted: March 28, 2021
Article in press: March 28, 2021
Published online: May 20, 2021
Processing time: 192 Days and 0.7 Hours
Peer-review started: November 1, 2020
First decision: November 30, 2020
Revised: December 2, 2020
Accepted: March 28, 2021
Article in press: March 28, 2021
Published online: May 20, 2021
Processing time: 192 Days and 0.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is associated with a citokine storm during acute phase. Interleukin-6 is a key player in this systemic inflammation. We evaluated the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ) on the outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia. Mortality was reduced in patients treated with TCZ (Odds ratio =0.64, 95% confidence intervals: 0.47-0.87; P < 0.01). We conclude that TCZ may improve outcome of COVID-19 infected patients.