Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antiinterluekin-6 receptor antibody, has been empirically used in the treatment of cytokine release syndrome associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 infections. The efficacy and safety of these medications for these patients is unknown. The purpose of this report was to present a case of acute large bowel perforation in a morbidly obese patient with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia who received empiric Tocilizumab. This case report analyzes the risks of acute large bowel perforation after using this medication empirically and discusses the appropriate management of this adverse event.
Keywords: Bowel perforation; COVID-19; Colonic perforation; Corticosteroids; IL-6; SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus; Tocilizumab.
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