Interleukin-6 blockade treatment for COVID-19 associated cytokine release syndrome in a patient with poorly controlled chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Abstract

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus pneumonia, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in Wuhan, China. A hyperinflammatory immune response, or cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is observed in critically unwell patients with SARS-CoV-2 globally. Severe lymphopenia, hyperactivated pro-inflammatory T cells1 and decreased regulatory T cells2 are seen in these critically ill patients, suggesting dysregulated immune responses.