According to accumulated clinical data, one of the causes of severe damage to lung epithelial cells associated with SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) is an acute, timely underestimated "cytokine storm" (cytokine cascade, hypercytokinaemia) with characteristic signs of an expressed hyper-inflammatory syndrome with subsequent polyorganic failure. The study presents the results of the analysis of the effectiveness of tocilizumab therapy (TCZ) in patients (n = 181) of different age groups with developed pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of TCZ therapy in patients of different age groups with developed pneumonia in the frame of COVID-19. Methods. Patients (n = 181) with community-acquired pneumonia caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are included in a one-center, non-randomized, prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of TCZ therapy conducted at the State Public Health Institution "City Clinical Hospital No.52" of the Moscow City Health Department. Patients were divided into 3 age subgroups – up to 50 years, 50–70 years and over 70 years. Patients with community-acquired SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia receiving non-invasive oxygen support and patients who had artificial lung ventilation (ALV) were given a single dose of 400 mg of TCZ in addition to basic therapy. Results. There are no significant differences between age groups in the severity of pneumonia according to the data of the computed tomography (CT), however, a more severe condition and a higher mortality rate (p < 0.001) were reliably observed in patients over 70 age compared to the other age groups. After TCZ treatment in patients of each age group, the severity of the condition assessed on the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) has been significantly reduced compared to the baseline. Conclusion. According to the data of the pilot study the efficacy and safety of TCZ in patients of all presented age groups with COVID-associated pulmonary tissue lesion and signs of "cytokine storm" was demonstrated. At the same time, patients up to 50 years after the therapy of TCZ managed to achieve greater clinical efficiency compared to patients in other groups. According to the severity of the state and laboratory criteria, the lowest clinical efficacy of TCZ therapy was observed in patients over 70 years of age; as a consequence, the highest mortality rate was observed in the same group. At the same time, the TCZ therapy has not had a positive impact on the change of laboratory values and the severity of the disease in case of unfavorable outcome.

РезюмеВаскулит, ассоциированный с действием антинейтрофильных цитоплазматических антител (АНЦА) представляет собой аутоиммунное системное тяжелое, часто угрожающее жизни заболевание, которое характеризуется некротизирующим воспалением сосудов малого калибра. В 75-90% случаев при АНЦА-ассоциированном васкулите (ААВ) развивается быстропрогрессирующий пауцииммунный некротизирующий полулунный гломерулонефрит. Несмотря на современную терапию высокими дозами глюкокортикоидов и циклофосфамидом или ритуксимабом риск смерти больных на первом году болезни повышен в 9 раз по сравнению со здоровыми лицами, что связано с инфекциями и активностью васкулита. В последние годы появились новые данные, которые позволяют полагать, что активация системы комплемента, и в частности, альтернативного пути комплемента, играет важную роль в патогенезе ААВ. Полагают, что нейтрофилы, праймированные инфекцией или провоспалительными цитокинами, высвобождают пропердин, который активирует альтернативный каскад комплемента с расщеплением С5 на С5а и С5b. Анафилатоксин C5a связывается с рецепторами на поверхности нейтрофилов, усиливая их праймирование и активацию и таким образом содействуя воспалению. В рандомизированном клиническом исследовании продемонстрирована эффективность селективного ингибитора С5а-рецептора авакопана при лечении ААВ. Однако в настоящее время авакопан недоступен в повседневной клинической практике. С другой стороны, в литературе имеются сообщения об успешном применении при тяжелом течении ААВ препарата моноклональных антител к С5 -экулизумаба. В настоящем сообщении мы представляем 4 клинических случая ААВ, осложнившегося COVID-19, когда общепринятая терапия циклофосфамидом не могла быть применена в связи особенно высоким

Aim. To determine the criteria for the optimal use of IL-6 receptor blockers in patients with COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia based on predictors of adverse outcomes. Materials and methods. The single-center, non-randomized prospective study included 190 patients with community-acquired pneumonia caused by coronavirus 2 between the beginning of March and the end of May 2020. Of these, 89 patients received tocilizumab and 101 patients received sarilumab. The study inclusion criterion for the patient was indications for initiating therapy with one of the inhibitors of IL-6 receptors (anti-IL-6R) according to the Interim guidelines (versions 4 and 5). The exclusion criterion was the need to re-prescribe genetically engineered biological therapy (GEBT). The severity of the patient's condition was assessed according to the early warning score (NEWS2), the volume of lung tissue lesions was assessed according to computed tomography (CT). Laboratory monitoring included counting the absolute (abs) number of lymphocytes, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, fibrinogen. Statistical data processing was conducted by nonparametric methods using the IBM SPSS Statistics V-22 software. Results. The phenotype of a patient with a negative outcome prognosis was described: a male patient over 50 years of age with aggravated premorbid background (with cardiovascular diseases, obesity and/or chronic renal disease), lung lesion CT 34, saturation less than 93% upon inhalation of atmospheric air, persisting for 2448 hours after GEBT. According to the blood test, lymphopenia was below 1000 U/L and CRP levels were above 50 mg/L. The laboratory parameters and clinical picture of the patient progressively worsened after 911 days of illness, regardless of the use of Anti-IL-6R. The features of patients monitoring when administering IL-6 receptor blockers have been determined. Conclusion. IL-6 receptor blockers should be administered to patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 before the development of hyperinflammatory reactions. The optimal "therapeutic window" is 78 days of illness.

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