IVIG Does Not Improve Clinical Outcomes In Patients With Severe COVID-19 Compared With Tocilizumab, Study Finds

The Pharmacy Times (4/24, Halpern) reports a study found that patients with severe COVID-19 “in the early phase of their disease did not present improved clinical outcomes regarding intensive care unit admission, hospitalization time, and mortality when treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) compared with those who received tocilizumab.” Researchers observed that IVIG treatment “was linked to more adverse events, including bradycardia and transfusion-associated circulatory overload.” The study “emphasized the lack of data supporting IVIG use in COVID-19 due to higher costs and side effects compared to tocilizumab.” Overall, they found that tocilizumab “demonstrated a safer profile with no serious drug-related adverse events observed.” The study was published in the Journal of Sao Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine.